Manchester City continue their pre-season schedule on Saturday when they take on Yokohama F Marinos at the Nissan Stadium.
J-League outfit Yokohama head into the contest having won each of their last four matches in all competitions.
Yokohama F Marinos
Despite being focused on trying to regain the top-flight crown in Japan, everyone associated with Yokohama will be relishing the opportunity to take on the Premier League champions on home territory.
Marinos have improved significantly since the game was initially announced, with the club - one of Asia's biggest - having only finished in 12th position in the standings during the last campaign.
However, Yokohama are back competing for top spot, now sitting just three points adrift of leaders FC Tokyo, although they have played more games than some of the chasing pack.
Nevertheless, this is a side who have put together a strong run of form of late with four victories being registered since the beginning of the month.
None of those triumphs has come against any of their direct rivals, but it has represented an important stage of their season knowing that their showdowns against the likes of Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale will come towards the back end of the season.
Brazilian frontman Edigar Junio has been their star man in recent weeks, netting in three successive games to continue his hot streak since joining on loan from Bahia.
His diminutive compatriot Marcos Junior will likely join him in attack, although many of this squad are yet to make much of an impression with the Japan national team.
Still, City are facing the current top goalscorers in the J-League, which in theory should give the English giants a tough test before they return back to the United Kingdom.
Recent form: WLWWWW
Manchester City
© Reuters
Pep Guardiola has been vocal about not wanting to rush his players back into action before they are ready after a gruelling campaign last season, which has been followed by some of his squad representing their respective nations up until last week.
Nevertheless, the Spaniard is aware that he needs the group which have been taking part in pre-season to be ready for their opening clash with West Ham United on August 10, meaning that a committed performance is likely against Yokohama.
Guardiola has frequently rotated his side during their previous three outings against West Ham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Kitchee, the latest of which resulted in a 6-1 victory.
However, the club's main stars are now taking on a workload of over an hour and we should see more of the same on Saturday, despite the humid conditions which are being predicted.
The likes of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane are furthest along the line of fitness progression, while Kevin De Bruyne is steadily increasing his sharpness after a stop-start campaign last season.
Guardiola has still taken the opportunity to assess many of the club's fringe and academy players, with Nabil Touaizi a notable goalscorer in the game against Kitchee.
The 18-year-old has starred in City's youth setup over the past 12 months, but making an impact with the first team was necessary given that he only has 12 months left on his contract.
Several players in the same age bracket find themselves in similar positions, leaving them eager to impress in what is likely to be their final opportunity before their future is discussed during the closing weeks of the transfer window.
Recent form: WDW
Team News
© Reuters
Taking the Community Shield into consideration, Guardiola could name his strongest team for the start of this contest.
David Silva may be the player to miss out with Ilkay Gundogan potentially getting the nod in a clash against Liverpool, while Danilo should be preferred to Angelino at left-back.
Phil Foden - having just returned from an extended summer break due to representing England Under-21s - should come into the equation in the second half after making a cameo against Kitchee.
Yokohama boss Ange Postecoglou will likely give minutes to each of his squad members given their current commitments in the J-League.
Yokohama F Marinos possible starting lineup:
Park; Hirose, Martins, Hatanaka, Bunmathan; Ohgihara, Kida; Nakagawa, Junior, Endo; Junio
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Danilo; Rodri, Gundogan, D.Silva; B.Silva, Sterling, Sane
Head To Head
These two sides will be squaring off for the first time in their history.
While City are favourites to emerge victorious, Guardiola would have taken note of Kawasaki Frontale getting the better of Chelsea in a friendly last week.
We say: Yokohama F Marinos 0-3 Manchester City
Guardiola will stress to his players that places are up for grabs ahead of the Community Shield, and that should lead to a professional performance in the final fixture of their tour of Asia.
Darren Plant
