J. League champions Kashima Antlers will be looking to complete a remarkable finish to the season with another title win when they take on Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the Emperor's Cup on Sunday at Suita Stadium.

Few could have predicted the recent form of Japan's most successful club after it finished the league campaign with four straight defeats and ended up in third place, a full 15 points behind first-placed Urawa Reds in the standings.

Masatada Ishii's men showed a steely resolve in the postseason to beat Frontale 1-0 in the J. League Championship playoff semifinal and rally to defeat Reds 2-1 in the second leg of the final, winning a record eighth league crown on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw.