Hopeful Celtic supporters are set for a major update on the availability of talisman Kyogo next week.
Japan will announce their squad for pivotal World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Vietnam on Wednesday, March 16.
And the crunch double header carries extra significance as the Premiership leaders' first game after the international break is away to title rivals Rangers.
Samurai Blue manager Harime Moriyasu admitted last month he would ideally call up Kyogo to assess his fitness, but that remains ambitious considering his long-term absence due to a hamstring injury.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has been keen not to place a definitive timeframe on the striker's comeback date, however, he did state he would come back during or shortly after the looming international break.
Moriyasu travelled to Lennoxtown in February and the recovery of the 27-year-old was a hot topic of conversation when he met with the Australian.
If Kyogo doesn't make the cut for his national team that might not necessarily signal bad news as he enters the final stages of his recovery.
But Moriyasu made clear of his hope to assess one of his stars in person - with the second part of the double header against Vietnam coming days before the visit to Ibrox.
He said: "I think it will be a last minute decision with Kyogo.
"It all depends on his condition then. There would also be a problem with his lack of match fitness too.
"I want to see if it's possible that he could come out here and we could make a decision then."
Daizen Maeda is likely to be called up but Reo Hatate is yet to make his senior debut while Yosuke Ideguchi hasn't featured for his country in three years.
