Orlando City FC has not given up on reaching the playoffs.
If the expansion club doesn't beat the Chicago Fire this weekend, though, it's unlikely the postseason will be in its future as these lowly teams meet for the fourth overall time Saturday night at Toyota Park.
Chicago (7-15-6) has a league-low 27 points while Orlando City has the worst goal differential in MLS at minus-15.
Orlando City (8-13-8) ended a 0-4-2 slide with Sunday's 3-1 home win over Sporting Kansas City. The Lions are one point behind Montreal for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot, though they have played three more games than the Impact.
This is Orlando's third trip to Toyota Park, where it won 3-2 on June 6 and lost 3-1 in a U.S. Open Cup match July 22. The teams also played to a 1-all draw in Florida on Aug. 29.
The Lions will try to contain Kennedy Igboananike and David Accam, who have combined for five of Chicago's six goals in the first three matchups.
"We've played them often enough so the only thing we don't know is who is going to play in what position," coach Adrian Heath told Orlando City's official website. "We pretty much know that their front four are very dynamic whichever way they play and whichever position they're playing in. It's a big game for us and probably the last roll of the dice for them so it's a big game this weekend."
Chicago blew a two-goal lead in last Friday's 3-2 defeat to the New York Red Bulls. That capped a three-game road stretch that began with the draw in Orlando, which was delayed for nearly an hour due to heavy rain and lightning.
"I think when we were down there, we drew, we should have won," Fire midfielder Michael Stephens said. "I think we had good chances, I think the rain delay hurt us."
The Fire are happy to be at home since they are the league's only winless road team. They are 7-6-1 at Toyota Park.
"We've played pretty well here and maybe not had all the best results we would have liked, but I think we've played pretty well and dominated most of the teams we've played here," coach Frank Yallop said.
Orlando designated player Kaka sat out Sunday with a muscle strain while midfielder Darwin Ceren was out with a knee injury. Heath said both are day to day.
Veteran defender Corey Ashe is expected to return for the Lions after missing one game with a knee injury.
Orlando's Adrian Winter scored his first two MLS goals Sunday. Winter, acquired July 31 after playing in Switzerland, has yet to face the Fire.
Cyle Larin, with a team-high 11 goals, has gone a season-high six straight games without one.
