Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Reds joined Kashima Antlers in clinching a place in the J. League Championship last Sunday, but this weekend's action will go a long way toward deciding if any more teams join them.
The top three teams in the overall league table and the winners of each stage qualify for the postseason playoffs, although the chances of those positions being occupied by five separate teams are slim. Frontale and Reds both guaranteed themselves top-three overall finishes with victories on Sunday, while Antlers locked up their berth in June by virtue of winning the first stage.
That leaves just one qualifying spot available through overall league positions, although with Antlers also currently occupying third place, eight points ahead of Gamba Osaka with four games remaining, that ship appears to have sailed for the rest of the title hopefuls.