Timbers-Whitecaps FC Preview

The Portland Timbers head into their first Cascadia Cup matchup riding a three-game unbeaten streak, but they're also still seeking their first road win in 2016.

Ending that drought Saturday would prove particularly sweet for the Timbers because they would also snap the rival Vancouver Whitecaps' unbeaten run at home.

Portland improved to 2-0-1 in its last three with a 2-1 victory against Toronto FC on Sunday, and Fanendo Adi opened the scoring with his seventh goal. Currently one of the league leaders, Adi has found the net three times during the Timbers' unbeaten run, but he has one goal in his team's 0-2-2 start on the road.

Portland (3-3-3) hasn't gone five-plus games without earning its first win away from home since 2012, when the club was 0-12-4 until defeating Vancouver 1-0 in its final road game.

The Timbers are 4-1-2 in visits to British Columbia since joining MLS in 2011 and a 2-0 win in Vancouver (3-5-2) on Nov. 8 was part of their run to their first league title.

"I think it will be a tense match. I think when you look at us and Vancouver, we have had very good teams over the past few years. We have had some good battles," coach Caleb Porter said. "We obviously knocked them out of the playoffs. Both of us are off to starts that's below what we want it to be so points are really important for both teams. They're at home so they'll want to win."

Vancouver is 2-0-2 in its four home games since falling 3-2 to Montreal in its season opener March 6. The Whitecaps also struggled to contain their latest opponent, losing 3-2 to New York City FC last Saturday, after giving up two goals over their prior three games.

"We didn't get the result we wanted in New York, but there were a lot of positives. There are a lot of things we need to improve on. That's been the story of our season so far," coach Carl Robinson said.

Vancouver won't have Kekuta Manneh as it tries to add to its Cascadia lead gained by virtue of a 2-1 victory in Seattle on March 19. The league suspended the forward for this match for a "serious foul" in the loss in New York.

Octavio Rivero's status is unclear for the Whitecaps because of an undisclosed ailment. The striker has one goal in nine games after scoring a team-best 10 in 2015.

Rivero hasn't tallied a goal or assist in five lifetime games against the Timbers. Adi, meanwhile, found the net in each of Portland's two visits to Vancouver last season and had an assist in the playoff victory.

Fellow Timbers forward Darren Mattocks will face his former team for the first time. He has one goal and one assist in seven games for Portland after scoring 19 times in 93 contests over four seasons for the Whitecaps.

The Timbers will face the Whitecaps again May 22 at home.