Impact-Crew Preview

When Montreal and Columbus square off for the third and final time this season, the Crew will be counting on a depleted squad to help them keep up their track record of home success against the Impact in Columbus, Ohio.

Midfielders Federico Higuain and Mohammed Saeid will both be sidelined for Columbus (3-5-5) on Saturday. Higuain is out five to seven weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery this week. Saeid is also expected be out after suffering a broken vertebrae.

It is just the latest chapter in a turbulent season for the Crew. Leading scorer Kei Kamara was traded to the New England Revolution after publicly criticizing Higuain following a 4-4 draw with the Impact last month.

The pieces are definitely in place for Montreal (5-4-4) to break through on the road against Columbus. In their previous seven games in Ohio, the Impact have won just once -- a 2-1 result on June 6, 2014.

Montreal is in a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference after ending a six-game stretch without a win after a 3-2 win over the L.A. Galaxy on May 28.

Ignacio Piatti has stepped up his game for the Impact in a big way, scoring eight goals through 13 games after finishing with nine goals during the 2015 season.

Piatti will be unable to work his magic against the Crew. The midfielder is sidelined with a hand injury. Top defender Laurent Ciman is also out because he is with Belgium's national team in the 2016 European Championship.