Nagoya Grampus won the J. League title a full 10 points ahead of second-place Gamba Osaka last season, but as the 2011 campaign enters the final stretch, the situation is anything but cut and dried.

Grampus and Gamba again form part of a select group with serious designs on the silverware, but this time the two heavy-hitters are joined by a joker in the pack.

Kashiwa Reysol lead the way in just their first season back after gaining promotion to the top flight, and the Chiba side will be hoping to achieve the remarkable feat of winning the second- and first-division titles in successive seasons.