Luis Silva has shined since being traded from Toronto FC to D.C. United last month.
Silva will face his former team for the first time Saturday night as the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference each try to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
After totaling five goals and five assists in his inaugural MLS season, Silva had two assists in 14 games for Toronto this year before being dealt to D.C. United on July 9 for allocation money. He has three goals and an assist in four matches since that trade.
"Luis is a great player," Toronto FC defender Jeremy Hall said. "I'm sure he's going to be looking forward to putting it to us so we're going to have to keep an eye on him."
Silva, however, couldn't help D.C. (3-17-4) avoid a fourth loss in five games last Saturday in Montreal. D.C. gave up the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute of a 2-1 defeat.
"It was a little bit heartbreaking for us. I felt like we played well, created enough chances, especially on the road, to get out of here with some sort of result, so it is disappointing," assistant coach Chad Ashton said.
Toronto FC (4-12-8) had gone 11 games without a victory before edging D.C. United 2-1 on June 15 at RFK Stadium. The United's own goal in the 41st minute snapped TFC's five-game winless streak in the series and extended D.C.'s winless skid to a club-record 13.
United snapped that June 22 with a 1-0 victory over San Jose but is 1-6-1 in its last eight contests. Toronto is 2-5-3 in its 10 games since facing D.C.
The club was shut out for the fourth time in five road games last Saturday, 2-0 by Columbus. TFC has been outscored 16-6 while going 2-8-2 away from home.
"Going to D.C. is a winnable game but it's also going to be a tough game because they're at the bottom looking up," Hall said. "We're looking forward to it, and we're mentally and physically prepared for it."
D.C. has split its last four home games, but is 1-2-2 against Toronto FC in the nation's capital since 2009.
United will have coach Ben Olsen available after he was initially suspended by the league. MLS rescinded that penalty Friday, which was automatically given to Olsen after he was thrown out of last week's loss.
