Urawa could have clinched their first J-League championship since 2006 last week but Gamba stunned the leaders 2-0 in Saitama to keep the title race alive with two rounds remaining.
Gamba (59 points, plus 26 goal difference) will host Vissel Kobe on Saturday and another victory, plus any failure by Urawa (61, plus 21) to win at fourth-placed Sagan Tosu, will see Kenta Hasegawa's Osaka-based side move into top spot in the J.League table.
Goals to Akihiro Sato and Shu Kurata in the last three minutes at Saitama Stadium saw Gamba triumph last week, while Hasegawa's team maintained that form with a 5-2 triumph over Shimizu S-Pulse in the Emperor's Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.
After leading 3-2 at half-time in the Emperor's Cup, Hasegawa was happy with how his team ground out the result against Shimizu.
"We stayed focused in the second half and although there were a few scares the players did well. We have somehow got to the final," he said.
"We only have two days off before our next league match and I am sure that there will be a bit of tiredness physically but it is our last home game and I hope we can pull together and get a good result."
Fifth-placed Kashiwa Reysol (54, plus four) still have a chance of qualifying for the ACL and having won their past six matches in all competitions, Nelson Baptista's men should believe they can stay in contention when they host Shimizu, who sit just above the drop zone.
