The J. League title race has gone down to the wire in every season since the single-league format was introduced in 2005, but Nagoya Grampus will be hoping for no such excitement this year.
Having led the way for most of the season, Dragan Stojkovic's side now stands on the brink of a first-ever championship. A win at already-relegated Shonan Bellmare on Saturday, coupled with anything less than three points for nearest challenger Kashima Antlers against Vissel Kobe, will see Nagoya bag the title with three games to spare and end Kashima's dominance after three years as champions.
Unquestionably, the cards are stacked in Nagoya's favor. But if Stojkovic is to finally claim the prize that eluded him as a player with the Tokai club, he cannot expect Antlers to hand him it on a platter.