Urawa Reds head into Saturday's Nabisco Cup final against Kashima Antlers looking for a rare moment of joy in an otherwise troubled season, but midfielder Naoki Yamada admits the specter of relegation is casting a large shadow over the occasion.
Reds take on Antlers at National Stadium in search of their first trophy since winning the Asian Champions League in 2007, evoking memories of the days when the Saitama side was a regular at the historic old ground with cup-final appearances in every year from 2002 to 2006.
But just one glance at the current J. League first division table is enough to bring reality sharply back into focus. Only a 2-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos last weekend lifted Urawa out of the relegation places two points clear of Ventforet Kofu, and with four games of the season left to play, Yamada knows Saturday's Nabisco Cup showpiece is not where his club's priorities lie.