SOCCEROOS striker Josh Kennedy's J-League side Nagoya Grampus is destined to block him from representing Australia at the East Asian Cup this month.

Kennedy - last month's 2014 FIFA World Cup hero when he scored the decisive goal to land Australia a ticket to Brazil next - is set to remain in Nagoya while Socceroos boss Holger Osieck leads an inexperienced side in South Korea.

Nagoya Grampus officials declined to comment about Kennedy and his predicament with the Socceroos until Osieck names his East Asian Cup squad.

The German is set to make the announcement on Friday.

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"With regards to Josh Kennedy, we cannot comment before the announcement for the members of Australian national team," an official from Nagoya said.

Kennedy missing the international tournament will be a huge blow for the Socceroos, considering Australian physio Les Gelis had worked extremely hard to get the striker fit in Japan in preparation for the ultimate FIFA World Cup qualifier last month in Sydney.

But with Nagoya currently facing the prospect of relegation under revered boss Dragan Stojkovic, it seems the club wants to keep their gun 30-year-old striker in Japan while other J-Leaguers will be allowed to represent Samurai Blue and South Korea at the East Asian Cup.

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Nagoya is only due to play a friendly against English giants Arsenal in the week the Socceroos face China, Japan and Korea Republic during the East Asian Cup, while the J-League competition takes a short mid-summer break.

And the Socceroos cannot lodge a FIFA protest if Nagoya does keep Kennedy, given the East Asian Cup is scheduled outside the international match calendar windows.

Kennedy, who has been a regular for Nagoya of late after a back injury laid the marksman low over the past 12 months, has scored three times in nine appearances for his club this year.

With Kennedy expected to miss the tournament, Adelaide United's Dario Vidosic , skipper Eugene Galekovic and Adelaide-born Newcastle Jets player Craig Goodwin are all expected to win Socceroos berths.

Japan is destined to take a young J-League-based squad to the East Asian Cup tournament with their European-based contingent tipped to be rested by boss Alberto Zaccheroni.

The Italian has named a squad of 40 J-League-based players for the East Asian Cup and is tipped to name his squad early next week.

The star of the Japanese domestic-based squad may well be Cerezo Osaka's Yoichiro Kakitani.

The 23-year-old gun midfielder has scored nine goals in 14 appearances for his club.

South Korea on Thursday named a strong 23-man squad with seven J-League players named.

Socceroos East Asian Cup schedule

South Korea v Australia – July 20

Japan v Australia- July 25

Australia v China – July 28