Phil Neville knows his Portland Timbers team have their fate in their own hands, and says they are "exactly where we want to be".
The Timbers drew 1-1 with their Pacific north-west rivals the Vancouver Whitecaps last time out.
With FC Dallas losing to Orlando City, Portland are eight points clear in the final playoff wildcard spot in the Western Conference with only nine points left to play for.
It means that a win against Austin FC on Wednesday would guarantee the Timbers' place in the postseason.
A draw may also be enough, depending on Dallas' result elsewhere, though Portland then face the team from Texas in their penultimate regular-season match.
Neville said: "It's in our own hands.
"What I've said to the players is that at the start of the season, when we were in preseason and setting the goals for the season, if we'd have known with three games to go, our destination is in our hands, then I think we would have snatched their hands off.
"Now it's over to us, it's up to us to do what we do at home.
"Two really tough games against two really well-coached teams but it's in our own hands. We’re exactly where we want to be and we want to chase down the people in front of us."
Austin are not mathematically out of the equation for the playoffs, though they would have to win to keep their slender hopes alive.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers - Evander
Evander has recorded an assist in an MLS-record nine straight home matches.
The Brazilian has 12 assists in home matches this season and could equal the third-most in a single season in league history with one more as only Carlos Valderrama (15 in 2000) and Preki (15 in 1997) had more than 13 in a single season.
Austin FC - Sebastian Driussi
Two years ago, Driussi plundered 25 goals in MLS. Last year, he scored 11.
It has been slim pickings in comparison this term for the Austin playmaker, who has netted five times, and has not scored since May in the league. If he is to come good, this is the time to do it.
MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND WIN
Austin scored in the 81st and 89th minutes to come from 2-0 down to earn a draw against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
It marked the second time Austin have overcome a two-goal deficit in the 80th minute or later also doing so in a 3—2 win against D.C. United in April 2022.
However, the Timbers are made the favourites by Opta's model.
Austin have managed just six wins in 38 away from home in all competitions (D9 L23), while the Timbers have won 10 of their last 12 home matches in all competitions (D2). Portland have scored four times in five of those 12 matches, including three of the last four.
The Timbers have won five of their last six matches against Austin (D1) after losing each of the first two meetings, both in Austin.
Austin scored seven goals in their first two matches against Portland but have managed just five goals in the six meetings since.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers - 53.4%
Austin - 22.7%
Draw - 23.9%
Reggae Boyz midfielder Ravel Morrison joins United Arab Emirates third division club Precision FC
Reggae Boyz midfielder Ravel Morrison has joined UAE third division club Precision FC, the 14th club of his professional career.
Morrison, who made his Manchester United debut as a 17-year-old in 2010, most recently played for MLS club DC United.
The 31-year-old previous clubs also include West Ham, Birmingham City, QPR, Lazio and Sheffield United, while he made 38 appearances for Derby during the 2021-22 season before leaving.
"This is more than a signing - it's a statement, a game-changer for both our club and football in the UAE," Precision said on their Instagram page.
"Known for his electrifying talent and skill, Ravel brings world-class experience and flair that will help our team to achieve its goals."
Last season was Precision's first and they won promotion to Division Two - the third tier - of UAE football.
Morrison has made 18 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, scoring two goals.
Real Salt Lake v Minnesota United: Mastroeni urges mental reset
Pablo Mastroeni has urged his young Real Salt Lake team to be mentally ready for the challenge of facing Minnesota United, following their weekend slip-up at Austin FC.
RSL let a two-goal advantage slip in the final 10 minutes as they drew 2-2 in Texas, a result that represented a severe dent to their hopes of topping the Western Conference.
They sit third in the standings but have played a game more than Los Angeles FC in second, while the Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders are breathing down their necks.
"It was a point on the road but again, I think what we're chasing is performances," Mastroeni said. "I think it's a learning curve.
"We have a really young group and these are experiences that unfortunately, you have to go through to learn from. There's no other way.
"If we had 30-year-olds across the backline I'd be disappointed, but we've got a really young group and in this particular moment in the season it's about making plays.
"We've got a quick turnaround for Wednesday so we've got to make sure our heads are right."
Minnesota, meanwhile, have won four of their last five matches to climb into playoff contention, routing the Rapids 3-0 in a deeply impressive performance last time out.
Head coach Eric Ramsey believes that is the best he has seen his team, saying: "It think it's the best [performance] of the season, for sure. We've stood here and talked about the need for complete performances countless times.
"We were dominant in all phases of the game, you saw a really, really accomplished performance against a team right at the top of the table, that is a real threat."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Salt Lake – Diogo Goncalves
Goncalves has come off the bench to score in each of Real Salt Lake's last two matches. Only Anderson Julio (2023) and Jeff Cunningham (2006) have scored on three straight substitute appearances for RSL in the club's MLS history.
Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah
Yeboah is the first player in Minnesota's MLS history to score on four consecutive league appearances.
His six appearances to reach seven goals, meanwhile, equals the second fastest to that mark in MLS history, with only Adama Diomande in 2018 doing so faster (five games).
MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN
Minnesota have won three straight away matches in all competitions for the third time in club history. However, the Loons have never won four straight away from home before.
Real Salt Lake have won 10 of their 15 home games in MLS this season, with only the LA Galaxy (41), Inter Miami and the Portland Timbers (39 each) bettering their 36 goals on their own turf.
They go in as favourites with home advantage behind them. Their last home match ended in a 3-3 draw with Portland, but they have not gone two home games without a win in over a year, enduring a six-match winless run from April to June 2023.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Real Salt Lake – 50.5%
Minnesota United – 24.5%
Draw – 25%
Kane still doubtful for Bayern on eve of Villa trip
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane remains a doubt for their Champions League clash with Aston Villa on Wednesday, coach Vincent Kompany has revealed.
Kane scored four goals to lead Bayern to a 9-2 demolition of visitors Dinamo Zagreb in their opening game in the competition's new-look league phase, the first time any team had scored nine goals in a Champions League match.
The England captain also moved to 33 Champions League goals in his career in that win, overtaking Wayne Rooney as his country's all-time leading scorer in the competition.
However, he then failed to have a shot in Bayern's 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday before picking up a knock late on.
"Harry trained today, and things went well. But we need to wait and see until tomorrow and be sure things stay like that," Kompany said at a press conference on Tuesday.
"Then we can calmly make the right decision. Hopefully everything stays fine."
The Bayern coach expects his players to enjoy the challenge against Unai Emery's in-form Villa team.
"Everyone knows it's been over 40 years since Aston Villa last played in the European Cup. What they did last season was extraordinary, they've earned it," Kompany said.
"They're a really organised team with a good atmosphere at home. But Bayern are used to these nights. We want to enjoy it, and the players are hopefully up for playing here."
Forward Serge Gnabry, who played for Arsenal and West Brom before heading back to Germany with Bayern, was upbeat about his return to England.
"England is very special. There's a great atmosphere in the old stadiums," Gnabry said.
"Football is often the biggest thing for people here in England, I'm looking forward to playing here tomorrow. It'll be Villa's first Champions League home game for many years, the place will be rocking."
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