Yuji Nakazawa has told Japan to go out and "batter" Bahrain as Takeshi Okada's men seek to wrap up the third round of 2010 World Cup qualifiers as winners of Asian Group 2 this weekend.
Nakazawa could only watch in horror as Aala Hubail's header sailed into the net following a blunder by goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi to give Bahrain a surprise 1-0 win in Manama back in March and is determined to get a little payback in Saitama on Sunday.
"We can't lose to the same opponents twice," Nakazawa said. "We are at home this time and we want to give it everything we have got and absolutely batter them. Each and every game is important but we are looking at Bahrain as opponents that we must not lose to," said the frizzy-haired defender.
Nakazawa was on target as Japan beat Thailand 3-0 away last Saturday and secured its passage into the final round of qualifiers after Bahrain drew 1-1 with Oman, which had needed three points to keep alive its hopes of progressing.
With both teams having advanced, Sunday's match is a dead rubber, but Okada is also in a vengeful mood and has said his personal pride and that of Japanese soccer will be on the line against Bahrain.
Okada has brought Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Hisato Sato in from the international wilderness after Yoshito Okubo was handed a three-match ban for kicking Oman's goalkeeper in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month.
The 51-year-old may also make other changes and could rest Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura, who needed a painkilling injection to play with a bruised right ankle against Thailand.