Neither Shimizu S-Pulse nor Nagoya Grampus have ever won a J. League title, but both clubs are giving off serious signals that this could be their year.
S-Pulse and Grampus both went into the current campaign looking like they could challenge the established order, and with the season at its halfway point, those suspicions have been well and truly confirmed.
S-Pulse currently top the table one point ahead of Grampus, with defending champions Kashima Antlers one further behind in third. The two pretenders to Kashima's throne have been playing well all season, but last weekend's results were their most significant statements of intent yet.