Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC: 3 things to watch in Eastern Conference Knockout Round

The 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs conclude Thursday night with third-place Montreal Impact hosting sixth-place Toronto FC in a wild-card knockout match, the final 401 Derby game of the season between these bitter rivals.

Wednesday night, D.C. United defeated the New England Revolution with a 2-1 result at RFK Stadium. Tonight, one more team will be eliminated from the Eastern Conference to set up the conference semifinals. The winner of this series will square up against the New York Red Bulls, and would also claim the honour of being the first Canadian MLS team to win a playoff game.

With supporters of both sides expecting a huge result, here are three things to watch for Thursday night at Stade Saputo:

The reign (and fitness) of Didier Drogba

There's no denying that the main character of this encounter is Montreal forward Didier Drogba.

After these two sides met last weekend to round out the season, Drogba enters this match not just with 11 goals in his last 11 games, but with a reputation as well: He's on fire. He's scoring freely, notching two goals against Toronto in that 2-1 win.

Drogba, for the most part, cannot be stopped. The former Chelsea man could have even had a third on Sunday if not for the crossbar, which should worry Toronto FC. But at 37 years old, Drogba is no spring chicken, and while he did manage to play the full 90 minutes, he's coming into this game on three days' rest.

What's more, Drogba had to limp off in the last encounter. Can Drogba survive 90 minutes once more?

Toronto FC's shaky backline needs help

It's no secret that, defensively, Toronto FC has been somewhat woeful this season (and, well, every season before that). The Reds, once more, finished the regular season having conceded the most goals in the league, this time allowing 58 alongside the Chicago Fire and New York City FC.

Montreal only conceded 44 goals in 2015.

Statistically and visually, Toronto FC struggles with its defending - it's why Drogba was able to tap in two back-heel goals completely unmarked in the box. Toronto FC's defenders have a penchant for shutting off for a few minutes and being punished for it.

What's more, Michael Bradley and Benoit Cheyrou play far enough apart to leave plenty of space in midfield to expose. And while Bradley is the ultimate workhorse, he can't do it alone. Toronto FC must be defensively solid and work as a unit in order to secure a win and a home playoff game at BMO Field.

Sebastian Giovinco faces tremendous pressure

When Sebastian Giovinco laces up his boots prior to kickoff, he won't just be carrying the hopes and dreams of the Toronto FC faithful; he'll also be shouldering the burden of history.

Giovinco's 22 goals and 16 assists this season make him the front-runner for league MVP, but Toronto FC needs more than positive chatter surrounding the "Atomic Ant" on this day - Giovinco has to perform.

It's a tremendous amount of pressure heaped onto Giovinco, and rather unfairly, too. Supporters' expectations come weighted with eight years of successive failure, and while Giovinco wasn't around for any of them, the fans watching most certainly were.

A win for Toronto FC wouldn't just give the Reds a home playoff date; it would erase eight years of pain and suffering, of embarrassment and hopelessness. And against a familiar foe in Montreal, Toronto FC's players seem to be confident that a win is attainable.

But for Giovinco, this match could serve as the platform for further transformation: the MLS MVP could become a Toronto FC legend, written in club lore. It starts, fittingly, in enemy territory at Stade Saputo, where the Impact play the role of lion for this little gladiator to try and slay.