Sporting Kansas City will be hoping to move into the MLS playoff places when they take on Real Salt Lake at Children's Mercy Park on Wednesday night.
The hosts are currently in 10th place, level on points with ninth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps, who occupy the final spot in the playoffs, while the visitors are enjoying a very good season, sitting up in fourth place.
Match preview
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Kansas made a truly terrible start to the MLS season, failing to win any of their opening 10 league matches, but after finally getting their first win on the board against Seattle Sounders in May, they have since gone on to turn their season around.
Over the last 15 games, SKC have picked up 22 points, the joint-third highest total in the Western Conference, and they are now within touching distance of the playoffs, but they have played more games than any other team in the league.
Peter Vermes's side have played three games more than the team immediately above them in the table, Vancouver Whitecaps, so they will need to sustain their upward trajectory if they are to finish inside the top nine.
However, Kansas' form has started to trail off a little bit over the past five games, winning just once and losing 1-0 at home against a struggling Chicago Fire side.
Last time out, SKC drew 2-2 away against Houston Dynamo in heartbreaking fashion, with the hosts equalising in the 98th minute, although it was probably a fair result on the balance of play.
Much like their opponents, Salt Lake also made a very poor start to the season, losing five of their opening seven games, but they have since gone on to emerge as real contenders near the top of the table.
RSL are now on an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning four of their last five league matches, most recently running out comfortable 4-0 winners at home against Orlando City, with four different goal scorers getting on the scoresheet.
Pablo Mastroeni's side still have some work to do defensively, having conceded 31 goals so far this season, the joint-third highest figure in the Western Conference, but they have started to make some huge strides in that regard.
Salt Lake have kept clean sheets in their last two matches, winning their most recent away match 1-0, with Anderson Julio netting a stoppage-time winner.
Team News
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Sporting Kansas City have several players out due to injury, with defender Kortne Ford out because of an Achilles tendon issue, while Graham Zusi, Tim Melia and William Agada will also miss out due to long-term problems.
Nemanja Radoja is a doubt, with the Serbian midfielder missing the recent trip to Houston Dynamo due to a knock, so Gabi Kinda, Remi Walter and Erik Thommy are expected to continue in the middle of the park.
Real Salt Lake also have some notable absentees, with Zack Farnsworth and Erik Holt both missing due to long-term issues, but Mastroeni has no new injury concerns to deal with.
However, the manager has a selection dilemma at right wing, as Julio has found the back of the net after being brought on as a substitute in the past two games, so Jefferson Savarino could drop to the bench.
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
McIntosh; Davis, Rosero, Fontas, Leibold; Thommy, Walter, Kinda; Russell, Salloi, Pulido
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Eneli, Glad, Vera, Brody; Julio, Ojeda, Ruiz, Luna; Arango, Kreilach
We say: Sporting Kansas City 0-1 Real Salt Lake
Sporting Kansas City have improved massively since their very poor start to the season, but they have started to return to the mean a little in recent weeks, picking up just one win in their last five games.
With Real Salt Lake in excellent form, having won five of their last seven league games, we expect them to emerge as narrow victors, continuing their upward trajectory in the league table.
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Dominic Lund
