In search of a fourth league victory on the bounce, high-flying New York City FC welcome Inter Miami to the Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
On the other hand, the away side will be looking to bounce back from a humiliating albeit largely inconsequential defeat last time out.
Match preview
Inter Miami went down without a whimper in Wednesday's 6-0 loss at the hands of La Liga giants Barcelona in a club friendly at the DRV PNK Stadium.
Goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Raphinha, Ansu Fati, Gavi, Memphis Depay and Ousmane Dembele put Phil Neville's men to the sword in Fort Lauderdale.
However, the Herons beat Charlotte 3-2 in their last league outing and now sit ninth in the Eastern Conference table, two points shy of the last playoff spot with a game in hand.
Up next is a clash versus an opposing outfit who have come out in top in each of the previous four meetings between the teams by a combined score of 9-3.
Having scored the fewest number of goals away from home so far, Sunday's visitors will need to up the ante at the attacking end of the pitch as they aim to end a seven-game winless run on the road.
New York City made it nine points from the last nine available courtesy of a narrow 1-0 triumph over New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull Arena on Sunday.
Valentin Castellanos broke the deadlock just past the midway point of the second half to hand Nick Cushing's men all three points against their city rivals.
The Boys in Blue remain second in the Eastern Conference standings, a point behind leaders Philadelphia Union having played a game fewer.
Currently with the best home record in the division, Sunday's hosts will head into this weekend's encounter with the wind in their sails and rightly so.
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Team News
Twenty-four-year-old Keaton Parks is not expected to feature on Sunday having missed each of the most recent six outings with a leg injury.
The home side will also be without the services of Anton Tinnerholm, who will continue his spell on the treatment table due to a muscle injury.
In what may have been his final game for New York City FC, Valentin Castellanos was on target for the fourth match running, and the forward will be a huge miss as he closes in on a move to Girona.
Ian Fray is Inter Miami's only guaranteed absentee for this weekend's contest, as the American remains sidelined with a long-term knee problem.
Still yet to feature in the league this term, Romeo Beckham and Harvey Neville are both expected to miss out despite being handed second-half cameos against Barcelona in midweek.
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Gray, Martins, Callens, Meineche; Acevedo, Morales; Magno, Morelez, Rodriguez; Heber
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Lowe, Sailor, McVey; Gregore, Mota; Taylor, Pozuelo, Vassilev; Campana
We say: New York City FC 2-0 Inter Miami
New York City FC look unstoppable at the moment, but their home form is even more frightening considering the fact that they are unbeaten in the last 12 on home turf. We are backing them to get the job done here in a relatively comfortable manner.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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