'They are a completely new team, with only the goalkeeper and four other players held over from our last game,' said Osim, whose team, like the Saudis, are looking for a record fourth continental title.

His men won 3-1 at home in their last meeting in November to avenge a 0-1 loss away two months earlier in the qualifiers.

'They are more aggressive and play modern football. They have a number of players whom we may find difficult to deal with.'

Saudi Arabia last won the title in 1996, but failed to reach the knockout stage in 2004 for the first time in two decades.

They have shown solid form in this tournament, with two wins and a draw in the group stage before easing past Uzbekistan 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

'We'll have a very, very big game as both teams are similar in style and are powerhouses of Asian football,' said their coach Helio dos Anjos, who has shaken up the squad after replacing fellow-Brazilian Marcos Paquetta in March.

The loss to the Blue Samurai in November 'doesn't matter at all'.

But he admitted his men were not as well-prepared. They had to travel 12 hours from Jakarta following Sunday's quarter-final, and arrived in Hanoi just 48 hours before the game.

In contrast, Japan have been in Hanoi for nearly three weeks.

They beat favourites Australia 4-3 on penalties in Saturday's quarter-finals, and had plenty of time for rest and recovery.

'There is a problem in our preparation, while other teams are having a rest,' said dos Anjos.

'We will try our best to prepare and hope our players will do well.'

Yasser Al Qahtani, who has three goals, leads the strikeforce alongside Malek Alhawsawi. And hardman centre-back Yuji Nakazawa will have the task with keeping them at bay.

'They are fast,' warned Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo after watching videos of their rivals.

'They also have a technical midfield, who can feed accurate passes to the couple.'

Osim has confidence in his back four, saying: 'Our defenders are capable, and I don't feel it's necessary to change them.

'If I keep the same team or change the team around, I will get criticised if we fail anyway.

'But I, as coach, will take all the responsibilities if we lose.'

Shunsuke Nakamura said they must stop the Saudis from launching lightning counter-attacks, as they have done successfully so far.

'They charge forth all at once and go on to shoot,' said the 29-year-old Scottish Player of the Year, whose free kicks helped Celtic win the Scottish Premier League title last season.

The playmaker has been instrumental in his country's run to the last four, scoring twice and being involved in most of the other seven goals.

'We must check them tightly, because I can picture this scene where they go all out with strikers - with even the defensive midfielders coming to the net.

'We need to mount fast breaks ourselves against their solid defence, and attempt long-range shots in addition to our quick passing.'

Nakamura, who will be linking up with the four-goal Naohiro Takahara up front, also bristled at suggestions he was unable to defend.

He insisted that he is now a more complete player than the one who was famously omitted from the 2002 World Cup squad by former coach Philippe Troussier.

'I used to do a bit of defending, you know,' the 29-year-old grinned.

'But, at Celtic, I've learnt to work harder and be more involved off the ball.'

Japan have not lost a game in this competition since 1996, and have defeated the Saudis 1-0 in both the 1992 and 2000 finals.

Saudi coach dos Anjos was not bothered.

He said: 'I have been trying to get it into the heads of the players: All other results against Japan don't matter.

'It is up to them to take their chance tomorrow. This is our chance to go to the final, and we want to take it.'

At stake for both sides is a place in the final in Jakarta on Sunday.

The other semi-final in Kuala Lumpur, also today, pits South Korea against Iraq.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

Japan v Saudi Arabia
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