The Japan men's national team will face Australia in the first of two remaining FIBA World Cup Asian first-round qualifiers on Friday night at Chiba Port Arena.

Many observers think that it's too tall of a task for the Akatsuki Five to post a win over their opponent and that their fate will be decided by the result of their first-round final game against Taiwan on Monday night in Taipei.

But Japan isn't thinking that way. It feels it has accumulated its best preparation and is determined to exhibit its best game against the best nation in the Asian region.