TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Shizuoka BlueRevs served notice of their title aspirations Saturday as they booked a Japan Rugby League One playoff berth by dismantling reigning champions Brave Lupus Tokyo 56-26.

Despite the absence of talisman captain Kwagga Smith, head coach Yuichiro Fujii's team dominated from the outset at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, running in eight tries, including a brace to fullback Kakeru Okumura.

The result leaves the BlueRevs in fourth place, two spots behind Todd Blackadder's Brave Lupus, with both assured of a place in the playoffs to be contested among the teams finishing in the top six.

Former Tonga and New Zealand international Charles Piutau stepped in as game-day captain for a Shizuoka side responsible for Brave Lupus' only other loss this season, having beaten them 34-28 in January.

Viliami Tahitua's kick-pass set up Malo Tuitama's ninth-minute opening try, and the visitors took just three minutes to score their second through Malgene Ilaua, with Sam Greene adding the extras for a 14-0 lead.

After Okumura dotted down for his first in the 19th minute, Shizuoka went on to take a 26-0 lead into the break.

Second-half tries from Japan internationals Warner Dearns, Jone Naikabula and Michael Leitch helped make the final score more flattering for a Brave Lupus outfit unable to keep pace with the upstarts from central Japan.

Having also defeated powerhouse Saitama Wild Knights in their breakout campaign, Shizuoka head toward their first League One playoffs brimming with confidence.