Japan takes on Fiji this weekend in its final home game before heading to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with head coach Jamie Joseph playing a conservative hand and resisting the temptation, unless forced, to give any fringe players in his squad the chance to make a last-minute impression.
Joseph names his 33-man RWC squad on Aug. 15, and his side to take on the Flying Fijians in the final round of the Pacific Nations Series at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on Saturday includes just two players yet to appear this summer.
Pieter "Lappies" Labuschagne, who captained Japan in a couple of games at the 2019 World Cup, returns from a long-term injury on the flank, while lock Kanji Shimokawa is set to win his second cap off the bench as Joseph deals with a mini injury crisis among the forwards.