Be afraid: Japan are in town and they're brimming with confidence

They are fast, they are powerful, and they are over here. Japan, the giants of Asian rugby, have arrived to take their final steps towards booking their customary berth in the Rugby World Cup.

And head coach John Kirwan immediately sounded a warning yesterday to rivals Hong Kong, who they play on Saturday, and South Korea, their opponents on November 25.

'We are obviously here to win. I'm fully aware of the importance of these two games, but we are already looking ahead to the World Cup in France next year where our objective is to win two of our pool games,' said Kirwan, who three weeks ago replaced Frenchman Jean-Pierre Elissalde as coach.

Former All Black winger Kirwan, is currently acting as 'adviser' to the Japan squad, and will only take over full responsibility as head coach on January 1. But for all intents and purposes, he will be calling the shots during the final Asian qualifying rounds for the 2007 World Cup.

Japan have represented Asia at all previous World Cups, starting from the inaugural event in 1987 when they were invited, to recent times when they have qualified easily. They are once again clear favourites and only an extreme pessimist could envisage them losing to Hong Kong or South Korea.

'We have full respect for Hong Kong and Korea, but I expect to win. There is a saying in our team 'no excuses' and I will want the guys to remember that,' said Kirwan.

Japan's 26-strong squad is led by winger Daisuke Ohata, a two-time World Cup campaigner and who is also the world record holder for most international test tries (65).