After a hot start to the Japan Tour season Brad Kennedy’s form has cooled in recent weeks but a return to familiar ground at the Bridgestone Open could be just what’s required to spark a big finish to the year.

The Queenslander reeled off four top five finishes in seven starts between May and August to rocket into the top-10 on the money list and will be looking to regain that form this week on a course where he finished T10 last year.

While still the leading Australasian earner at 11^th on the list, Kennedy has done everything but win in the 2015 season and after a decent week at last week’s Japan Open will take some confidence into this week.

Kennedy is one of seven Australasians in the field for the prestigious tournament, joined by former winner David Smail, rookies Matt Griffin and Won Joon Lee, 2015 tournament winners Adam Bland and Michael Hendry and Japan veteran Kurt Barnes.

Barnes has played well at the Sodegaura Country Club in the past with a third place finish in 2013 and an opening 66 last year seeing him T2 through 18 holes.

Bland, too, found the layout to his liking in his only appearance last year, a final round 66 enough to jump him into the top-10, the T6 one of his best finishes of the season.