Things have not been going the right way for runners up Kawasaki Frontale early this season. In the AFC Champions League, they have lost their first two group matches and chances of them progressing is really diminishing now. Even in their first league match against Alberix Niigata, they were no where as fluent as they should be and for once, this year J-League seems more intriguing with more teams in contention to challenge Kashima Antlers for the title. Nagoya Grampus was the most disappointing side in the league last season, as they plummeted to a lowly ninth to miss out football at the biggest stage.

Kennedy was the hero for Nagoya in Osaka in match day one when he netted a brace to collect all three vital points for his team. Gamba Osaka have always been one of the top three teams in Japan and if Nagoya are capable of beating them, it suggests that they are on the right way up. Talking about this match, Nagoya should have the impetus in them to continue their decent run, given that Kawasaki were relatively uncomfortable travelers in 09. They lost seven of their seventeen  games on the road and with their defence having question marks at present, the big versatile frame of the Australian Kennedy will punish them.

Pick: Nagoya @2.32