A massive three points will be up for grabs at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday as Inter Miami and Toronto battle to climb above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer.
The Herons trail their state rivals Orlando City on goal difference for that final postseason spot, while TFC have put themselves back in the mix for a place in the top seven, going unbeaten in their previous five league fixtures.
Match preview
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Miami have shown signs of life just in the nick of time, grabbing 11 points from their last six encounters, putting them in the thick of a heated playoff battle.
All they need is a single point to climb into the top-seven, however, a defeat could drop them down to 12th, where the Chicago Fire currently sit, three points back.
Phil Neville's men have captured three straight MLS affairs in South Beach, scoring three or more goals in each of those results.
They have conceded the opening goal in back-to-back fixtures but the Herons quickly found a way back into both of those matches.
Miami equalised one minute after CF Montreal took a 1-0 lead in their last road match and answered a Talles Magno goal within five minutes last weekend in a 3-2 victory over New York City FC.
If they can win three of their remaining 10 regular season encounters, Miami would set a new club record for points in a campaign, eclipsing the old mark of 41 set in 2021.
Five of their remaining encounters will be versus teams currently in a playoff position, and all of their games left are against Eastern Conference teams, so it goes without saying that they will have to continue winning.
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It has been a memorable few weeks for Toronto, who have depended on their new signings to climb back into playoff contention.
The Italian invasion has captured the imagination of TFC supporters, as six of the last nine tallies by the Reds have come from an Azzuri player, while the reliable Jonathan Osorio has chipped in with three goals of his own.
Bob Bradley saw his side start well against the New England Revolution this week, scoring from the penalty spot after 31 minutes, but then they fell asleep between the tail end of the first half and the start of the second, conceding twice, before a late wonder strike gave them a single point.
Being in the hunt for a playoff position is a vast improvement from what this team showed us in the early portion of the season, but time is not on their side as they have four teams to catch in the postseason race and only nine games to do it in.
Their play on the road has improved in recent weeks, going unbeaten in their previous two away fixtures, scoring four goals over that stretch after failing to tally in three straight matches as the visitors before a 4-3 win against Nashville SC.
More than half of their goals conceded this season have come away from home (23 of 45), though their last clean sheet domestically this year took place on the road when they played to a scoreless draw against the Revs.
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Team News
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Former Toronto midfielder and league MVP Alejandro Pozuelo scored twice in their triumph over NYCFC, Ariel Lassiter picked up his second goal of the season in that encounter, while Gonzalo Higuain and Bryce Duke each had an assist.
Higuain is tied with Leonardo Campana for the team lead in goals as they both have eight, while Drake Callender is searching for his first clean sheet at home since a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in May.
Inter Miami have mutually parted ways with Jairo Quinteros, who featured in only four matches this year, while Robbie Robinson remains absent with a hamstring injury.
Federico Bernardeschi became the first Toronto player to score in his first three MLS home games, scoring the opener in their draw on Wednesday, though it was a sensational volley from Domenico Criscito, which levelled that match as Michael Bradley picked up his third assist of the year on that play.
Lorenzo Insigne has found the back of the net in two of his last three games, including the winner in their previous road fixture in the Music City, while the only Toronto goal ever scored in Miami came courtesy of Herons defender Kieran Gibbs, who accidentally netted on his own team in a 3-1 victory for the Floridians last year.
Mark-Anthony Kaye, Quentin Westberg and Noble Okello were all omitted from the lineup on Wednesday as they are each suffering from lower body injuries.
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; McVey, Yedlin, Lowe, Gibbs; Gregore; Mota, Taylor, Duke; Pozuelo, Higuain
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Bono; Laryea, O'Neill, Mavinga, Criscito; Osorio, Bradley, Nelson; Bernardeschi, Jimenez, Insigne
We say: Inter Miami 1-2 Toronto
The significant big game experience of Insigne, Bernardeschi and Criscito has been invaluable to this Toronto team, and we expect the Reds to play with a greater sense of urgency in this one, knowing that they have virtually no room for error at this stage of the season.
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