TOKYO — Japan manager Takeshi Okada wants his players to take some chances in Saturday's Asian World Cup qualifier against Bahrain.

Japan has eight points in Group A, two behind unbeaten Australia and four ahead of Bahrain halfway through the final full round of regional qualifying. Qatar, which travels to play Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Saturday, is also four points behind Japan.

Okada knows his team can make things a lot easier on itself and put even more pressure on Bahrain with three points from a win at Saitama Stadium.

"We'll take risks when we have to," Okada said. "All the games are important, but this is one we have to go for. I've picked players who can give that kind of performance."

Australia has the weekend off before an April 1 meeting with Uzbekistan — one of three home matches the Socceroos have in the last four qualifiers.

Japan defeated Bahrain 3-2 in Manama last September to begin the round and should be too strong at home — but confidence was dented in a 1-1 home draw against Uzbekistan in October.

Including Asian Cup qualifiers, Japan and Bahrain have met four times since Okada returned to the helm of the national team in December 2007 — each team has a two wins apiece.

After Bahrain, Japan faces Uzbekistan away, Qatar at home and Australia away in June.

Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has been called up along with Wolfsburg's Yoshito Okubo and Makoto Hasebe. St. Etienne's Daisuke Matsui was also named to the squad.

Japan had trouble scoring in its last home match against Australia, which finished in a scoreless draw at Yokohama.

Okubo has vowed to take a more aggressive approach against Bahrain.

"I think this will be our most important game so far," Okubo told Nikkansports. "We're playing at home, there will be a lot of supporters there, it's a game we really have to win. I plan on being as aggressive as possible."

Okada is hoping the addition of in-form Albirex Niigata forward Kisho Yano will add some spark to Japan's attack. Yano, who replaces JEF United's Seiichiro Maki, scored in his team's 2-1 upset win over defending J-League champions Kashima Antlers on March 15.

Okada also recalled Oita Trinita attacking midfielder Mu Kanzaki, who made his international debut earlier this year.

Bahrain stayed in contention with a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in February and will need a positive result to keep its hopes of automatic qualification alive.

Milan Macala's men will have no time to rest as before hosting Qatar in Manama on April 1.

In a key Group B match, Iran hosts Saudi Arabia in a derby between the two most powerful teams in West Asia.

Iran is on six points in third place in the group — behind South Korea (8) and North Korea (7) — and two points clear of the Saudis.

Saudi Arabia, aiming for a fifth World Cup appearance, has struggled in qualifying and is coming off a loss to North Korea.

"This is a do-or-die match for Saudi," Iran captain Karim Bagheri told the Asian Football Confederation's Web site. "It's an important match for both teams, but there's more pressure on them. They're in danger of missing out on qualification so they have to open up and score against us."

The Saudi side will also be missing striker Yasser Al Qahtani, the 2007 Asian player of the year, who is under suspension for the Tehran match.

"Saudi have always given us tough matches and this one will be no different. But we've never lost to Saudi in Iran and I hope we can get all three points," Bagheri said.

In three World Cup qualifiers at Iran, the Iranians have beaten Saudi Arabia twice — including a 2-0 win in front of 90,000 fans at Azadi Stadium in 2001. The other match was a draw.

North Korea has a chance to overhaul South Korea when it hosts winless United Arab Emirates at Pyongyang.

South Korea has the weekend off before hosting the North next Wednesday.