Japan, the 2006 World Baseball Classic Champions, will be the heavy favorites to claim a ticket to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games when Group A action begins Saturday at the Asian Championships in Taiwan.

The Japanese swept a pair of games from a strong Australian National Team prior to the Olympic Qualifier and will boast a strong pitching staff led by Nippon Ham Fighters right-hander Darvish Yu, Lotte Marines lefty Yoshihisa Naruse, and Seibu Lions righty Hideaki Wakui.

Photo courtesy: Marco Vasini – IBAF

The 21 year-old Darvish, the Pacific League MVP, posted a 15-5 record with 210 strikeouts, 12 complete games, and a 1.82 ERA this past season. Naruse went 16-1 and led the league with a 1.81 ERA while Wakui recorded the most wins (17).

Skipper Senichi Hoshino’s squad will also feature a top-notch bullpen including closers Iwase Hitoki (Chunichi Dragons), Koji Uehara (Yomiuri Giants), and Kyuji Fujikawa (Hanshin Tigers).

”Ten (Japanese) guys pitched the last two nights. I think any of them could pitch in the big leagues,” Australian manager Jon Deeble said after his players managed just one run in two games against Japan recently.

Chunichi second baseman Araki Masahiro, who led the Central League with 31 stolen bases, or Lotte’s Nishioka Tsuyoshi are the candidates to bat leadoff for Japan. Yakult Swallows outfielder Norichika Aoki, who won his second batting title this year with a .346 average, will likely be batting third. Slugger Takahiro Arai, who recently signed with Hanshin, is the probable cleanup hitter.

Japan’s biggest obstacle will undoubtedly be South Korea which boasts Chunichi Dragons outfielder Byung Kyu Lee, Doosan Bears third baseman Dong Joo Kim and Lotte Giants Dae Ho Lee, a former Triple Crown winner.

On the mound, Hanwha Eagles southpaw Hyun Jin Ryu is expected to start against Japan. Although he won 35 games his first two season, Ryu is similar to most power pitchers who often struggles with his control. Samsung Lions right-hander Seung Hwan Oh, who registered 87 saves the past two seasons, is expected to assume the closer role.

Righty Jae Kuk Ryu, who went 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays this past season, will also be a key starter for South Korea. Former Major Leaguer Chan Ho Park, the first Korean Major Leaguer, is the captain of the squad.

Taiwan is coached by Tai-yuan Kuo and features three-time batting champion Cheng-Min Peng(Brother Elephants), former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and 2007 batting leader Chin-Feng Chen(La New Bears) and Tai-Shan Chang(Sinon Bulls).

Uni-President Lions right-hander Pan Wei-lun, who went 16-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 21 games this year, along with En-yu Lin(Rakuten Eagles), Ying-Chieh Lin(Rakuten) and Ming-Chieh Hsu(Seibu), all had limited appearances in Japanese baseball in 2007.

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