Japan manager Javier Aguirre is running out of time to build a team for January's Asian Cup, but the Mexican will hope that the return of several familiar faces for two friendlies over the coming week can provide instant solutions.
Japan takes on Honduras in Toyota on Friday before facing Asian Cup hosts Australia in Osaka four days later, with Aguirre looking for positives after a frustrating first four games in charge. A 1-0 win over Jamaica last month may have given the manager his first victory, but a 4-0 drubbing by Brazil a few days later told a different story and took the number of goals conceded on his watch to eight.
Appointing a manager with no prior experience of Japan was always going to require a period of acclimatization, and Aguirre's squad selections have reflected the fact that he is still familiarizing himself with the J. League and its players.