Japan will host Group B leaders Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in a crucial 2022 World Cup final Asian qualifier at Saitama Stadium, where anything other than a win will jeopardize their chance of automatic qualification for the finals in Qatar.
Saudi Arabia on 19 points can clinch their final berth with a win, while second-place Japan know failure to get three points could see them overtaken by Australia, sitting just a point behind in third.
With a win over Saudi Arabia, Japan can visit Australia in March aware that a win there will secure their seventh straight spot in the finals.