Whitecaps FC-Timbers Preview

Having split two earlier meetings, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers know Saturday's showdown in Portland could go a long way in determining who makes the playoffs and who goes home.

With 37 points, Vancouver (8-7-13) is one ahead of Portland (8-8-12) for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Both clubs have five matches remaining following this contest.

"This is playoff soccer," Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert told the team's official website. "This is what we live for and what we play for. It's the most exciting time of the year, aside from the playoffs itself. I know everybody can't wait. I can't wait, I'm sure the fans can't wait, this whole organization must be excited. We're one point ahead and we're going down to Portland to win."

Vancouver is 1-5-4 all-time against the Timbers, with its only victory coming 4-3 in Portland on June 1. However, the Whitecaps saw their woes in the series resume Aug. 30 with a 3-0 home loss.

"I think we made them look a little better than they were," Whitecaps defender Andy O'Brien said. "That was the biggest disappointment on that particular day. But it's a clean slate and we look forward to (Saturday's) game."

Vancouver has been limited to 10 goals during a 2-4-6 stretch after falling 2-1 at FC Dallas last Saturday. Erik Hurtado tied the match in the 67th minute but David Ousted let in the tiebreaking goal with 12 minutes to go.

"We've got to try and take as many points as we can in these (next) six games and start Saturday," coach Carl Robinson said. "Whatever's happened up to this point is irrelevant. It's all about these next six games now."

The Timbers have posted back-to-back draws in league play since winning at Vancouver, 3-all against San Jose on Sept. 7 and 2-all at Colorado last Saturday. Diego Valeri gave Portland a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute and Gaston Fernandez tied things up in the 76th minute.

"We faced some of adversity and kind of let it get away a little bit but we battled back," midfielder Ben Zemanski said. "We'll take a tie right now and we look forward to playing Vancouver at home."

Portland faces a quick turnaround after beating CD Olimpia 4-2 in Tuesday's CONCACAF champions league match. Maximiliano Urruti scored his 11 and team-leading 12th goals while Fernandez notched his first two assists of the year.

"If we didn't have a deep squad we'd have to play the same guys and then now we'd be in trouble playing Vancouver," coach Caleb Porter said. "Having the depth that we have allows us to get a result today and now we have some fresh bodies, some fresh options to use."

While Fernandez didn't face the Whitecaps last month, he and Urruti have combined for three goals in the season series. Will Johnson has three of his own to go with two assists in five meetings against Vancouver since 2013.