It's time once again to gear up for the World Baseball Classic.

The Samurai Japan team was to play its first WBC tuneup game on Sunday against the Hiroshima Carp at Sun Marine Stadium in Miyazaki. This will be followed by another warmup against the Seibu Lions on Feb. 18, also at Sun Marine.

Then it's on to Kyocera Osaka Dome for exhibitions against the Australian national team Feb. 23 and 24. The Japan representative squad will also face the Hanshin Tigers on Feb. 26 at Kyocera, before wrapping up practice games with a Feb. 28 meeting against the Yomiuri Giants at Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome.