Hirotoki Onozawa will become just the fourth Japanese player to play 50 times for his country when he runs out onto the field at the Hanazono Stadium in Osaka on Saturday for the HSBC Asian Five Nations game against South Korea.

The 31-year-old follows in the footsteps of the illustrious Kobe Kobelco Steelers trio of Daisuke Ohata (58 caps), Takeomi Ito (62) and Yukio Motoki, Japan’s most capped player with 79.

And Onozawa will have double reason to celebrate should Japan win as it would ensure the hosts retain the trophy they won last year, even though they still have one game to play.

South Korea currently lead the standings by a point but their shock 30-27 defeat to Kazakhstan and Japan’s game in hand mean victory for John Kirwan’s team would put them out of reach.

Kirwan has spent the week with the Japan Rugby Football Union delegation in Dublin as they put their case forward to host either the 2015 or 2019 Rugby World Cup.

With the Pacific Nations Cup very much in the mind of the players and coaches, a number of changes have been made to the side that defeated Hong Kong 59-6 in Round Two.

The front row is an all Kobe affair and Luke Thompson returns to the second row.

Takashi Kikutani, who will once again lead the side, keeps his place at No. 8, while Tomoki Yoshida becomes the third scrumhalf to be used in as many games.

“We have prepared well and as this is the last home game of the season, I hope a good crowd come out to watch us,” said Kikutani. “But we have to make sure we play for the full 80 minutes.”

The only real surprise in the starting line-up is in the backs where Ayumu Goromaru has been picked on the wing, with Jack Tarrant keeping his place at fullback.

Koji Tomioka, a late call-up to the squad after an injury to Bryce Robins is named on the bench.