Five matches remain for Major League Soccer playoff hopefuls Austin FC and Houston Dynamo heading into Saturday night's all-Texan tussle at Q2 Stadium.
Although Houston occupy the final guaranteed spot in the Western Conference, their opponents require several positive results in the concluding rounds to sneak into the wild-card round.
Match preview
Tenth-placed Austin sit 10 points adrift of this weekend's opponents in the battle to make the off-season playoff as the possibility of a top-seven spot continues to thin after every negative result.
Although a recent 1-1 draw with LAFC was encouraging in isolation, wins are required for Josh Wolff's men to give themselves a chance of leapfrogging this weekend's visiting club.
While that outcome is mathematically possible, it appears unrealistic with five games remaining, and Los Verdes (35 points) may have to settle for finishing eighth or ninth, with Portland Timbers (43) and Minnesota United (39) the teams directly above them in the Western.
Nevertheless, a three-match run without winning (two losses) could undermine the Texas club's aim to play in the off-season tournament via the wild-card round having missed out a year ago.
Austin ideally should be pleased they have three more home matches to play, but winning one of their last six (three losses) in front of their supporters dampens the mood.
This weekend's visitors' MLS performance this year has not matched the previous campaign's ninth overall finish and fourth in the Western, but they remain on course to partake in the post-season playoffs.
Although Ben Olsen's team sit 10th in the overall standings and seventh in their division heading into their final five matches, they have the Portland Timbers breathing down their neck.
The in-form Orange Crush head into Saturday's fixture on a four-game streak without losing, notching two victories to keep them two points clear of Phil Neville's team, who closed the gap on the seventh-placed side following a 4-2 midweek success over LA Galaxy.
Olsen's men could only draw with Vancouver Whitecaps, missing the chance to leapfrog the Canadian side and move level on points with fifth-placed Seattle Sounders in their division.
While El Naranja could rise as high as fifth if results go in their favour, the team in seventh could also drop out of coveted spots this weekend if they are defeated and Portland win at Real Salt Lake.
Team News
Austin are boosted by the returning trio of Sebastian Driussi, Brendan Hines-Ike and Jhojan Valencia, who missed Wednesday night's draw with LAFC through suspension.
Dani Pereira risks a ban for the playoff hopefuls if he picks up a caution against Houston.
Matt Hedges missed the midweek draw after sustaining a hip issue that forced him off at half time against Toronto, thus making the centre-back doubtful for this weekend.
Houston have more possible injury absentees, with Lawrence Ennali and Nelson Quinones battling knee issues, while Hector Herrera (hamstring) and Gabriel Segal (head) are uncertain to be involved at Austin.
Ezequiel Ponce has found the net in three of the last four matches for the away side, coinciding with the away side's unbeaten run, and the 27-year-old summer arrival aims to add to his three MLS strikes.
Griffin Dorsey is walking the disciplinary tightrope, with the right-back one more yellow from suspension.
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Desler, Hines-Ike, Cascante, Biro; Ring, Pereira, Driussi; Bukari, Zardes, Obrian
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Escobar; Artur, Carrasquilla; Kowalczyk, Bassi, Aliyu; Ponce
We say: Austin FC 1-2 Houston Dynamo
Despite the returns of Driussi, Hines-Ike and Valencia, Austin's recent inability to win on their turf means Houston should fancy their prospects of nicking a positive result in the Texan battle this weekend, thus sealing a fourth consecutive MLS road triumph.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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