Two sides that are sitting level on 29 points in the J1 League table will go head-to-head when Sanfrecce Hiroshima welcome Kashima Antlers to the EDION Stadium on Saturday.
Hiroshima have lost their last four competitive matches, while the visitors have picked up just one point from their previous two games.
Match preview
Saturday's hosts are currently enduring a poor run of form, which began with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Kawasaki Frontale on June 11.
They went on to lose 2-1 to Nagoya Grampus in the J.League Cup, before suffering a league defeat against Yokohama F. Marinos.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima were condemned to their fourth consecutive loss last weekend when they were beaten 2-0 in their away meeting with Albirex Niigata.
Michael Skibbe's side will be concerned by the fact that his team have been unable to find the net in each of their last three top-flight matches, while they have failed to score more than one goal in seven of their previous eight league games.
Having won four of their last five competitive home fixtures, Sanfrecce Hiroshima will be hoping to make full use of home advantage on Saturday.
Kashima Antlers, meanwhile, enjoyed a 12-game unbeaten run across all competitions before their positive spell of form was brought to an end by a 2-1 defeat to Gamba Osaka on June 24.
After losing for the first time since April, Kashima attempted to bounce back when they played host to Kyoto Sanga last weekend.
As it proved, Daiki Iwamasa's side had to be content with a point following a goalless affair, which represented their fourth draw in six league matches.
After playing four of their last five competitive games on home soil, Kashima will head on their travels and look to end a three-game winless away run (D2, L1).
Although they have struggled for away victories in recent weeks, they do boast the joint second-best away record, having picked up 17 points from 10 matches.
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- D
- W
- W
- W
- L
- D
Team News
Makoto Mitsuta and Pieros Sotiriou both remain sidelined for the hosts, while Tsukasa Shiotani remains a doubt due to an injury problem.
After being introduced as a half-time substitute last weekend, Gakuto Notsuda could be presented with a starting opportunity.
Douglas Vieira is expected to retain his place up front, and the experienced striker will be looking to end his seven-game goal drought.
As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the services of Kei Chinen and Arthur Caike, who are ruled out through injury.
After featuring in between the posts for the last two games, goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa is set to keep his place in the side, and he is expected to be shielded by the central defensive pairing of Naomichi Ueda and Ikuma Sekigawa.
Shoma Doi dropped out of the lineup for the meeting with Kyoto Sanga, but he could be recalled to the side for Saturday's contest.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima possible starting lineup:
Osako; Sumiyoshi, Sasaki, Araki; Chajima, Higashi, Notsuda, Shichi; Kawamura, Morishima; Vieira
Kashima Antlers possible starting lineup:
Hayakawa; Tsunemoto, Ueda, Sekigawa, Anzai; Doi, Higuchi, Pituca, Nakama; Araki, Suzuki
We say: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 Kashima Antlers
Although Sanfrecce Hiroshima have lost their last four matches, they boast an impressive head-to-head record against Saturday's opponents.
They have won their last three meetings with Kashima, including a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture, and we think that they will draw upon that experience to claim another narrow win this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
