Houston Dynamo will be looking to build on their Open Cup victory in midweek when they host Austin FC at Shell Energy Stadium in MLS on Saturday evening.
The hosts put a wounded Minnesota United to the sword to advance to the last eight of the cup last time out, whilst Austin were not as successful, losing at home to Chicago Fire.
Match preview
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Houston booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Open Cup on Wednesday night with a convincing 4-0 win over Minnesota in Texas - setting up a clash with Chicago in the next round.
Corey Baird stepped up to the goalscoring plate and bagged a hat-trick to down the Loons, with substitute Ibrahim Aliyu also getting on the scoresheet - albeit a red card for Minnesota's Kervin Arriaga after 38 minutes made the game less competitive.
Dynamo now return to MLS matters - a competition they have not won in for four games, although Ben Olsen's men did halt a two-game losing run last weekend by sharing the spoils against Dallas at Toyota Stadium.
The Texas-based club currently sit 10th in the Western Conference standings, one point behind Saturday's visitors Austin who occupy the final playoff spot in the 14-team division.
Amine Bassi has been a leading light for Dynamo this season - the Frenchman has netted five goals in 10 MLS appearances so far and his absence was felt significantly when he has not featured this term.
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Austin's Open Cup journey came to an end on Wednesday night with a 2-0 home defeat to fellow MLS outfit Chicago, with goals from Rafael Czichos and Kacper Przybylko either side of the interval ensuring the Fire booked a place in the last eight.
The Oaks have MLS football to attend to until Leagues Cup commences in late July, and the club will be looking to better their MLS Cup run of 2022 in which they fell at the semi-final stage.
Josh Wolff's side have failed to set the division alight after finishing second in the Western Conference last year behind Los Angeles FC - Austin are ninth heading into this weekend's round of fixtures.
Gyasi Zardes was a notable incoming for the start of this season - the 31-year-old scored every other game for Columbus Crew over a four-year period but has failed to have a similar impact in Texas just yet, managing two goals in 13 MLS appearances.
Austin have already lost at Shell Energy Stadium this season, with goals from the brilliant Bassi and Hector Herrera handing the Oaks their first away loss of the campaign in March.
Team News
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Houston have a long-term absentee in their medical room in the form of left-back Tate Schmitt - the 25-year-old will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury suffered against San Jose Earthquakes in the April.
Erik Sviatchenko made the off-season switch from FC Midtjylland to Shell Energy Stadium, but an abdominal injury has limited him to just the single Open Cup appearance this term.
Zimbabwe international Teenage Hadebe had cemented himself as first-choice centre-back before breaking his ankle at the start of the month - the 27-year-old is expected to be sidelined until September.
Austin will travel across Texas without the services of midfielder Sebastian Driussi, with the Argentinian recovering from a groin injury which will keep him as a spectator until next month.
The Verde and Black's defensive options were dealt a blow when it was revealed that Slovenian Zan Kolmanic will miss the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury - Jon Gallagher has been operating as a wing-back on the left in recent matches.
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Escobar, Bartlow, Micael, Gasper; Herrera, Artur, Carrasquilla; Bassi, Baird, Aliyu
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Valsanen, Cascante, Ring; Lima, Djeffal, Pereira, Gallagher; Finlay, Zardes, Redes
We say: Houston Dynamo 2-1 Austin FC
Houston will be high on confidence after their Open Cup victory in the week, especially when considering Baird managed to score a hat-trick - something that could help take the goalscoring burden off Bassi.
Austin will be desperate to get back to winning ways after being knocked out of the cup in midweek, but we envisage a tricky Saturday at Shell Energy Stadium for the Verde and Black.
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Carter White
