Impact-Crew Preview

The Columbus Crew are hanging onto the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot and can't afford to drop any points against the East's worst team this weekend.

The Crew have won all four previous home meetings with the Montreal Impact, who go into Saturday night's matchup winless in their last 19 on the road in MLS.

Columbus (10-9-10) seeks a fifth straight home win after a 1-0 victory over New England last Saturday on Federico Higuain's team-best 10th goal in the second half. Coach Gregg Berhalter did not use a substitution until the 77th minute, and was pleased with the starting lineup he employed.

"I think we were content with the way we were playing and there's no need to change anything when you're happy with how things are going," Berhalter told the Crew's official website.

Columbus has 40 points for fifth place in the East and won't be happy with anything fewer than three this weekend. The Crew's last four games are against fellow contenders in New England, New York and two with Philadelphia.

The Crew have outscored Montreal 8-2 in four previous home matchups, winning 2-1 on July 19. They are eager to get off to a fast start Saturday.

"I think it's important to put your stamp early on the game, make the other team work, make then worry about our dangerous players and set the tone early," Columbus defender Eric Gehrig said.

The Impact (6-17-6) have been eliminated from contention and are mired in a 0-15-4 road winless streak with seven straight defeats away from home. Montreal is the only MLS team yet to win on the road.

The Crew remain wary of the Impact, who won 2-0 at home over Columbus on Aug. 30 behind two goals from Ignacio Piatti.

"Yeah they're in last place, yeah they're eliminated but to me they're a really dangerous team," Gehrig said. "Piatti's been great for them, (Marco) Di Vaio is world class, (Jack) McInerney's a great player and Dilly (Duka) has found his form."

McInerney snapped a streak of eight straight MLS starts without a goal last Saturday and Duka had the other tally in a 2-0 home win over San Jose.

"It's definitely been a while since I scored and having games go by without scoring is frustrating," McInerney told the Impact's official website.

Montreal defender Krzysztof Krol is eligible to return from suspension. Midfielder Justin Mapp could be back after missing six games with a groin injury.

The Impact received good news when they advanced in the CONCACAF Champions League without playing when New York and Salvadoran club FAS played to a scoreless draw Wednesday night.

"I think in a difficult year, I think that the way we're playing now to finish on a positive note, I think this goes a long way toward building I think a lot of momentum next year for the team," coach Frank Klopas said. "We're definitely a different team at this point of the season than we were at the beginning."