Fifa World Cup Qualifier Preview: Uzbekistan - Japan

Japan will be optimistic but wary heading into this match with Uzbekistan after just three days of rest. This will be the Samurai Blue's first match outside of their home country since the Asian Cup final in January. Coach Alberto Zaccheroni will keep his 4-2-3-1 formation but Cerezo Osaka's Hiroshi Kiyotake is likely to earn a starting role in place of Yosuke Kashiwagi, who was ineffective against the North Koreans.

The big question facing Japan is the state of their attack now that they will spend at least three months without striker Keisuke Honda, who underwent knee surgery in Spain this weekend. Tadanari Lee, unimpressive against North Korea, is an option, however Mike Havenaar did well on debut as a substitute on Friday and could be handed a start.

• Both teams are coming off 1-0 victories to start their third round campaigns.

• This is the first meeting between Japan and Uzbekistan since World Cup 2010 qualifying in June 2009. Japan won that match 1-0 in Tashkent thanks to Shinji Okazaki's ninth-minute goal but ended the game down a man after Makoto Hasebe received a late red card.

• Tuesday's match will be the fourth meeting between the two sides. Aside from the two WC2010 qualifiers, Japan won a friendly in September 1996.

• Uzbekistan shocked the confederation in January by reaching the semifinals of the Asian Cup, where they lost to Australia by a 6-0 score.

• Uzbekistan went undefeated in the second round of World Cup qualifying, beating Kyrgyzstan 4-0 and 3-0.