“I have nothing to lose,” said Raikkonen, 24 on Friday week, who trails the five-time champ by nine points.

“I know what I have to do and am only focused on that, not how Michael is going, and I know the team will do everything they can.

“Hopefully it will be an exciting race and we will just have to wait and see what happens.”

Raikkonen has not won since scoring his maiden victory in Malaysia last March and under the old points-scoring system Schumacher would have been crowned champion following his sixth win of the campaign in the United States Grand Prix two weeks ago.

But a string of podium finishes has kept the so-called ’Ice Man’ in contention going into the 16th round of an absorbing campaign – and he

believes he would be even closer to the German had rain not intervened when he held a comfortable lead in Indianapolis.

“The US GP was a weekend of mixed emotions for me and the team,” added

Raikkonen, who will bid for the title in only the 50th race of his career.

“We pushed as much as we could and had a good strategy but the weather

spoiled our chances but there is still a chance of winning the drivers’ title.

“It will not be as easy as if I had taken victory at Indianapolis, but I enjoy a challenge.”

Realistically, Raikkonen stands little chance of thwarting Schumacher’s bid for a record sixth drivers’ crown as no driver has blown a nine-point lead in a title decider.

Schumacher’s Ferrari team will also be doing their utmost to ensure that his run of 37 races without a reliability problem is extended by one knowing they can rely on the driver to fulfil his duties on the track.

The 34-year-old will attempt to score the solitary point he needs to eclipse the record he shares with Juan Manuel Fangio on a track which holds special memories for him.

Schumacher has won on the demanding figure-of-eight circuit five times, including the last three years starting with his success in 2000 which finally ended Ferrari’s 21-year quest to regain the drivers’ title.

“The memories of that day, the moment I crossed the finish line, are imprinted on my mind,” said Schumacher, who finally saw off the challenge of Raikkonen’s fellow countryman and McLaren predecessor Mika Hakkinen to win the championship.

“That was one of the best moments of my career. It would be great if something like that could happen again.

“We have come to the last act of the championship. Racing at Suzuka has always been among my favourites for one simple reason: I love the track because it is technically very, very demanding.

“Suzuka is a track on which I feel at home. Things have always gone well for us there and I cannot wait to race on it.”