Nagoya have finally steadied the ship after a turbulent mid season period whereby they were in total free fall. Since then, they have gained some encouragement with positive results from their recent encounters. On paper, they look a promising team boasting a whole host of talent including their key striker Pedro Junior. They are on a three game winning streak at the moment and I think the entire team has started chipping in goals from all areas. Nagoya though, face danger of missing out of the top four spots this year, which would mean less financial support for 2010, with a champions league spot evading them.

Kashiwa will not make it easy for them as they will be scrapping for everything from now till the end of season to escape from relegation. Recent results suggest that they might be improving but a revitalized Nagoya will prove that form is temporary and class is permanent. On the plus side for Grampus, they have gotten the better of Kashiwa in majority of their encounters and the least three corresponding fixtures played at Nagoya have been 1-0,2-0 and 4-0.

Pick: Nagoya @1.93