Southampton defender Maya Yoshida is hoping he can draw on the experience of having faced some of Cote d'Ivoire's big guns at club level as he prepares for the biggest game of his career in Japan's opener at the World Cup finals on Saturday.
Yoshida has had mixed fortunes against the likes of Roma striker Gervinho and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure but is well aware that he must be completely switched on for 90 minutes in the Group C clash in Recife.
Gervinho scored twice with former club Arsenal as the Gunners hammered Southampton 6-1 in Yoshida's debut for the Saints when he came on as a first-half substitute in their Premier League match in September 2012.