Kashiwa will at the same time hope teams above them, especially second-placed Gamba Osaka and third-ranked Nagoya Grampus, falter
Kashiwa stayed in the race for a place in Champions League with a 2-0 victory against bottom-placed Vegalta Sendai on December 1, inspired by a goal from Kenyan international Olunga
Olunga, who scored 27 goals in the second-tier won by Kashiwa last season, stabbed home the only goal that sunk Nagoya in the first leg when play resumed in July
Michael Olunga’s Kashiwa Reysol will hope to keep alive their chances of qualifying for next year's Asian Champions League when they face Nagoya Grampus in a Japan J1 League match at Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium on Saturday.
Currently in eighth spot on 47 points, Kashiwa badly need a win to boost their chances of featuring in the lucrative Champions League next season.
