Ailing Japan will take on Australia at the 2006 FIFA World Cup on Monday

Japan will go all out against Australia, even with a hurting Shunsuke Nakamura.

Attacking midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura downplayed concerns Thursday over a leg injury he suffered a day earlier during training, saying he is confident he will be ready to take on Australia in Japan's Group F FIFA World Cup opener on Monday.

The 27-year-old left Bonn's Sportpark Nord both days with his left leg wrapped in ice. He trained separately Thursday afternoon with injured teammates Akira Kaji and Atsushi Yanagisawa, but took part in shooting practice and appeared to have little difficulty running.

"I'm not worried about missing the opener," Nakamura said. "I'm OK shooting the ball. The only worry I have is my short sprints because it hurts when I start to run. I plan to test it out harder tomorrow and we'll see how it goes."

Nakamura contradicted reports he had injured his hamstring, saying he was experiencing pain lower down his leg.

"The doctor told me it was a tendon and not the muscle, which would have been more severe," Nakamura said. "I expect to be all right this weekend."

Nakamura, who helped Celtic win the Scottish premiership title in his first year at the club after three years at Italy's Reggina, is one of a growing list of Japan players to have succumbed to injury since arriving in Germany for the FIFA World Cup two weeks ago.

In addition to Yanagisawa (hamstring) and Kaji (ankle), Alessandro Santos (ankle) and Naohiro Takahara (knee) are also on the mend. In essence, head coach Zico's entire first-choice attacking unit is comprised of the walking wounded.

Santos looked to be the most uncomfortable of the group on Thursday, exiting the training ground with a noticeable limp.

Takahara, however, said he was raring to go.

"My knee isn't a worry anymore even though I can still feel a bit of pain," Takahara said. "I'll be fine on Monday."

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