Toninho Cerezo's youthful Kashima outfit are two points clear at the top after winning four of their opening five league games.
A come-from-behind 3-1 victory at Yokohama F Marinos was the latest of those victories, completed by a team which had five players in their early 20s starting.
"I suppose other teams will prepare strategies to contain us, but that will help us develop further," midfielder Gaku Shibasaki, 21, said.
Third-placed champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima face a battle when they visit sixth-placed Nagoya Grampus' Toyota Stadium.
Both teams played out draws mid-week – Sanfrecce in the AFC Champions League and Nagoya in the J-League Cup.
Sanfrecce will be desperate to return to winning ways after the controversial draw against Seoul, which saw the South Koreans awarded two late penalties – converting one.
Having scored just once and conceded 14, Shinji Kobayashi's men look set to find it tough to avoid relegation.
