Dean Smith is solely focused on pushing for a playoff place as Charlotte FC prepare to return to MLS action against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

Charlotte endured a disappointing Leagues Cup campaign as they finished bottom of a group containing the Philadelphia Union and Cruz Azul, recording one draw and one defeat.

That early exit gave former Aston Villa boss Smith three weeks to work with his players ahead of MLS' return this weekend, with Charlotte currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, some 10 points clear of the teams outside the playoff picture. 

"In the two or three weeks since the exit from the Leagues Cup, we've been solely focused on a playoff push, on getting our mindset right for what it's going to take," Smith said.

"The players have responded really well. We've had some days off when they've needed them, but our focus now is on New York, and then on Atlanta.

"We can take a lot of confidence from what we did in our last three games, all tough away from home, and we came away with five points. We'll take the positives from that."

The Red Bulls also went out of the Leagues Cup early, drawing both of their group matches with Toronto FC and Pachuca before losing penalty shoot-outs to both.

They are four points clear of Charlotte in the standings, but boss Sandro Schwarz feels they needed the time off.

"First of all, we needed to take a break, it was important for us. We played every week at the highest intensity, working since the middle of January without a break," Schwarz said.

"At this point it's good to have the break, then we have clear preparations for how we want to start in Charlotte."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Charlotte FC – Ben Bender 

Bender has scored four goals in five career matches against the Red Bulls. No Charlotte player has scored more goals against a single opponent than Bender has against New York.

New York Red Bulls – Elias Manoel 

Manoel has scored six goals in five career matches against Charlotte (including playoffs) while scoring more than once against just one other opponent (two versus D.C. United). 

In fact, Manoel has scored just seven goals in 57 MLS matches against teams other than Charlotte.

MATCH PREDICTION – CHARLOTTE FC WIN

The Red Bulls have only lost one of their seven games against Charlotte in all competitions (four wins, two draws) but have never defeated the Crown on the road (one draw, one loss).

Saturday's visitors are unbeaten in 10 straight matches (two wins, eight draws), though both of their Leagues Cup matches were draws followed by penalty shoot-out defeats. On the road, they are winless in six (three draws, three defeats).

Charlotte, meanwhile, have kept nine clean sheets in their last 14 regular-season home games dating back to last October, the most in MLS during that time. That solidity could get them over the line here.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Charlotte FC – 41.7%

New York Red Bulls – 31.6%

Draw – 26.7%