Thanks to a late collapse from long-time league leaders Yokohama F. Marinos last season, Sanfrecce won their final two games to claim a second successive J.League crown.
Kawasaki Frontale won each of their last four matches last term, securing a third-placed finish and ending just three points behind the champions.
Sanfrecce picked up a slender but valuable 1-0 win at Cerezo Osaka in their opening match of the new season last weekend, with Tsukasa Shiotani's 71st-minute strike enough to secure three points.
Recent history will not provide much inspiration for Shimizu, who have only beaten Marinos in one of their last eight meetings in all competitions, while the corresponding fixture in the league last season ended in a 5-0 away win, with Marquinhos – now at Vissel – netting a hat-trick.
Tokushima Vortis were brought back to earth with a bump following promotion to the J.League as Sagan Tosu ran out 5-0 winners last Saturday. Urawa Reds host Sagan this weekend hoping to contain their attacking threat.
Two of the promoted sides – Tokushima and Vissel – face home games against Cerezo and Kashiwa Reysol, respectively.
