“Marcus Tulio Tanaka is a leader at the back for the Reds. Shinji Ono is also a leader in midfield. Having two leaders on the park at the same time is not good for Urawa … the team are not in harmony when they play in the same side,” says Masashi Yamashita, sports editor of Jenta, a Sydney-based Japanese newspaper part of the Sport Nippon group.

Yamashita also told www.au.fourfourtwo.com that because of Kazuyoshi Miura’s stint with FC last season, “Sydney is very well-known in Japan but no-one knows who is Adelaide."

He also pinpointed the visitors’ danger men. “Urawa has a very good striker in Yuchiro Nagai. And Yuki Abe is another hero for the side.”

He’s right. Nagai has scored two from two in the J-League heading into this Saturday’s round three clash with lowly Vantforet Kofu in Saitama. The Reds then fly in to Sydney for the much-anticipated clash with the refreshed and confident A-League side.

Yamashita also says the scheduling of the match will go against the visitors. “If the game was played last December, I think Urawa would win. But now, playing during the J-League means it’s a disadvantage. Maybe a draw or a loss next week for the [Japanese] side.”

The Reds are on four points in the J-League. After a 2-1 opening day win, they blew a two goal lead away to Albirex Niigata conceding twice in the final two minutes for a 2-2 draw last weekend. Nagai and Washington scored for Urawa.

Yamashita expects a large media contingent and about 1000 Diamonds fans to descend on Sydney next week.