Kashima Antlers hold the record for most Meiji Yasuda J1 League titles, but it’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima who sit in pole position for the crown this season, setting the stage for this huge match-up when the two teams meet on Saturday at 18:00 JST live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.

Sanfrecce are not just first place in J1; they are also the hottest team in the league. The Three Arrows have won seven matches in a row by a combined score of 15-4. It’s been a phenomenal run of form and it’s what propelled them to the top of the table.

Sanfrecce's surge has been especially impressive considering they sold star forward Yuki Ohashi to Blackburn Rovers in the middle of their streak, but they replaced Ohashi with Tolgay Arslan and the German has hit the ground running in Hiroshima.

Arslan has scored five goals in five matches, giving the Viola a constant threat in front of goal. He’s proven himself to be a match-winner too, scoring a hat trick in a 3-2 win over FC Tokyo last time out. With the German at the tip of the Sanfrecce attack, compatriot Michael Skibbe's side are still the best attacking team in J1 and look set to challenge for a first title since 2015.

Kashima know plenty about winning titles, with eight of them to the club’s name, and they are still in the fight to take home the crown this season. They’re in fourth place and only seven points back of Sanfrecce with a match in hand, making this a massive game at home for their title hopes.

It could be the last chance to get back on track for the Antlers, who have lost two of their last three matches, but feature an attack that can trouble any side with Yuma Suzuki and Kimito Nono in top form.

Nono, a 22-year-old starlet, has burst onto the scene with seven goals this season and his contributions will be vital if Kashima want to defend home turf and get back into the title race against Sanfrecce this Saturday.

Will the Antlers make a statement in their push for a record ninth title? Or will Sanfrecce win their eighth match in a row to protect their place on top of the table?

Find out live on JLeague.co!