Australia tackle Japan in Saitama on Tuesday desperate for points as they seek to secure a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.
Hosts Japan are the runaway leaders in Group B of AFC fourth-round qualifying, six points clear of second-placed Jordan and effectively need just one more point to secure a place at next year s showcase event in Brazil.
Australia are third in the pool, one point behind Jordan who they host in Melbourne on June 11 before a game against Iraq in Sydney a week later.
Those two home matches are likely to prove decisive in determining the Socceroos fate, but any points they can pick up against Japan would be a valuable bonus.
The previous meeting between the teams 12 months ago ended in a 1-1 draw in Brisbane, where a Luke Wilkshire penalty cancelled out Yuzo Kurihara s opener for the visitors.
Both teams ended the match at Suncorp Stadium a man down, with Mark Milligan and goalscorer Kurihara both receiving second yellow cards.
Prior to that game, Japan defeated Australia 1-0 after extra-time in the final of the 2011 Asian Cup.
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni may be without star man Keisuke Honda, who is still with club side CSKA Moscow ahead of their Russian Cup final clash against Anzhi Makhachkala on Saturday.
Honda is then due to join up with the national team, but it remains to be seen if he will recover from a thigh strain in time to take part in either match.
If Honda does miss out, Japan will look to Manchester United s attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa to lead by example.
Kagawa is Japan s joint second-highest goalscorer in qualifying, level on four strikes with Honda and Jubilo Iwata veteran Ryoichi Maeda.
Stuttgart s Shinji Okazaki is the leading scorer with seven efforts.
Australia coach Holger Osieck has recalled fit-again front man Josh Kennedy, who is the Socceroos leading scorer with four goals.
Kennedy will be well-known to his opponents, having spent the last four years banging in goals for Japanese club Nagoya Grampus.
But Kennedy is not guaranteed to start the game, as Osieck may opt to pick New York Red Bulls man Tim Cahill in an advanced role, supported by Brett Holman, despite the midfielder being out of favour at Aston Villa during the second half of the season.
Mile Jedinak, fresh from leading Crystal Palace to Championship playoff glory, is likely to partner one of Milligan or Matt McKay in centre midfield.
Japan suffered a surprise 2-0 friendly defeat to Bulgaria on Wednesday, while Australia s last outing ended in a 2-2 draw at home to Oman in March.
