Japan will face tougher tests over the year ahead than next Wednesday's season-opening friendly against Latvia, but with World Cup qualification virtually secured more than 16 months before the tournament begins, manager Alberto Zaccheroni will be keen to start building momentum on the road to Brazil.

Japan heads into 2013 with a place at a fifth successive World Cup as good as in the bag, having steered a safe course through the previous 12 months to sit top of Group B a full eight points clear of its nearest rivals. Zaccheroni's side can seal the deal in its next qualifier away to Jordan on March 26, but the manager will already be planning his wider strategy as he looks to turn Japan into a genuine contender for a place in the quarterfinals or beyond.

First up is the Latvians' visit to Kobe, with Zaccheroni expected to name a full-strength squad when he announces his selection on Thursday. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson would no doubt prefer to see Shinji Kagawa excluded from that list with the attacking midfielder having only recently returned from injury, but time is at a premium on international get-togethers and Zaccheroni will not want to waste a single opportunity to get his message across.