Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto is confident his team can overcome Croatia in their do-or-die Group F clash in Nuremberg on Sunday.
Both teams need a win to have a realistic chance of progressing to the second round of the competition after Japan and Croatia lost their opening games of the tournament to Australia and Brazil respectively.
"I think that we can overcome the Croatians in this game," said the Gamba Osaka defender. "We just have to believe in ourselves."
The two nations met in Japan's first appearance at the World Cup, in 1998, when the Croatians emerged 1-0 winners thanks to a goal by Davor Suker before Miroslav Blazevic's side went on to reach the semi-finals.
Japan, by contrast, lost all three games eight years ago and the Zico-coached team are on track to emulate that dubious feat just four years after Philippe Troussier guided the nation to the second round of the tournament on home soil
As a result, the Brazilian will switch his team around for the Croatia game and draft in Akira Kaji in place of Yuichi Komano in a straight swap on the right side of defence while Keisuke Tsuboi makes way for midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara.
That will see Japan use a four-man midfield as Ogasawara joins Hidetoshi Nakata, Takashi Fukunishi and Shunsuke Nakamura behind strikers Atsushi Yanagisawa and Naohiro Takahara.
Despite the change in formation, Miyamoto was confident the Japanese could cope, although he conceded the Croatians represent a tougher challenge than Guus Hiddink's Australia.
"We are used to playing 4-4-2 so that's not a problem," he said of the tactical change.
"I think the Croatians are better. They have many experienced players so it's going to be a difficult game for Japan."
Kaji, meanwhile, was delighted to be making his return to the starting line-up after missing the game against Australia following his recovery from an ankle injury he sustained during Japan's pre-tournament friendly against Germany.
"I'm finally getting my chance," he said.
"It's my World Cup opener but I don't feel any extra pressure. I'll just play the way I would in any other game."
