By Durosimi Thomas BBC Sport, Tunis

Trabelsi has recovered from injury

Manager Roger Lemerre has included defender Hatem Trabelsi in the Tunisian side playing two friendly ties against Japan and Morocco.

Trabelsi, who has not played for the national team since April, has recovered from an ankle injury which he sustained in August during a European Champions League game with Ajax.

Wednesday's game with Japan is the third meeting between the two teams - their first confrontation was in 1996, when the Carthage Eagles lost 1-0 in a friendly in Kobe.

The second encounter was at the 2002 World Cup finals, where the Tunisians lost 2-0 in a group game in Osaka.

Lemerre said the game against the Japanese was a good chance to test his team against non-African opposition.

"Even though we are preparing for the Nations Cup it doesn't mean we should only concentrate on playing friendlies with African sides," the Frenchman said.

"Exposure against other teams in Europe and Asia is also quite important."

Tunisia will play Morocco on Saturday, with both games taking place at the El Menzah Stadium.