Japan host Thailand in their seventh match of 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying third-round, Group B clash at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday.
The hosts are heading into the game on the back of their 2-0 win against United Arab Emirates on the road last week, while the visitors have travelled to Saitama after facing a 3-0 defeat to group leaders Saudi Arabia at home.
Kiatsuk Senamuang's side have now lost five out of their six games, including the first leg against Japan, in the third round so far and their only positive result came against Australia last year at home, when they held the latter to a 2-2 draw.
With only one point from six games, Thailand's chances of making it to the finals in Russia look bleak and thus coach Senamuang reportedly believes his team have nothing to lose and are ready to come up with an "all-out effort" tomorrow. Captain Theerathon Bunmathan will miss the clash as he picked up his second yellow in the game against Saudi Arabia and he has been replaced by Chonburi playmaker Nurul Sriyankem.
On the other hand, the second-placed Japanese team (13 points) will look to secure three more points and cement their position among the automatic qualifying spots in the group as third-placed Australia, with 10 points, will be looking to make use of opportunities to leapfrog the Samurai Blue.
Also, Vahid Halilhodzic's men are set to face Australia and Saudi Arabia in their last two group games and thus they would want to collect as many points enroute to the big clashes.
TV Schedule
Thailand: Fox Sports, BBTV Channel 7
Japan: TBS
Indonesia: Fox Sports
Malaysia: Fox Sports
Iraq: beIN Sports Arabia
Philippines: Fox Sports
Vietnam: Fox Sports
Team News
Japan
Possible XI: Kawashima; Sakai, Yoshida, Morishige, Nagatomo; Yamaguchi, Konno, Honda, Kagawa, Haraguchi; Osako
Thailand
Possible XI: Thamsatchanan; Promrak, Kesarat, Chutong; Sriyankem, Yooyen, Chappuis, Do, Songkrasin; Chatthong, Dangda
