Phil Neville is treating the Portland Timbers' Decision-Day derby against the Seattle Sounders as the first test of the postseason, as they gear up for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The Timbers have already secured a wild-card playoff place ahead of their final regular-season match, though they could yet leapfrog the Vancouver Whitecaps to finish eighth in the Western Conference.

After missing the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns, Portland are already focused on enjoying a deep run this term, with Neville seeing Saturday's match as a dress rehearsal.

"We're in the part of the season where you have to earn your money," Neville said. "You have to produce, you have to deliver.

"I'm excited and so are the players, so is everyone at the club. It starts on Saturday with a game against our biggest rivals, we're playing for the Cascadia Cup.

"We know that the highest we can get is eighth and we've got to rely on other results, but we're just going up there with the focus to get the three points and bring the cup home."

The Sounders, meanwhile, enter the final matchday flying high in the West, hoping to fend off Real Salt Lake to retain the third seed. 

"The players are feeling good," said head coach Brian Schmetzer ahead of Saturday's game. "Everybody's playing well and everybody's training hard. The guys are ready.

"I think everybody's pitched in. I think it's probably one of the tighter knit groups I've had."

Goalkeeper Stefan Frei added: "There's a lot to play for. 

"When you're playing a rival, there's also a trophy on the line as well, so we're excited to host them, and hopefully use it as a good exercise for what's to come."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak 

Rusnak is the first player in the Sounders' MLS history to record 10 goals and 15 assists in a single regular season. Rusnak is one assist away from equalling Seattle's single-season record of 16, set by Nicolas Lodeiro in 2018.

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander's 32 goal contributions this season equals Diego Valeri's 2017 campaign for the most in a single season in Portland history. 

With 15 goals and 17 assists, Evander is one of six players in MLS history to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a season, including one of two (also Lionel Messi) this year.

MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

This will be the first ever meeting between the Sounders and Timbers on the final day of the MLS regular season. 

Portland are unbeaten in eight straight visits to Seattle (five wins, three draws) in all competitions, the longest unbeaten run by any club at Seattle in the Sounders' MLS era (since 2009). However, they face a daunting task here.

The Sounders have won 11 of their last 14 regular-season matches (one draw, two losses) including the last three in a row. Seattle's 34 points over their last 14 games are the second-most they have collected over a 14-game span in a single season (36 in July-October 2018).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 49.2%

Portland Timbers – 25.2%

Draw – 25.5%

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%

LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney has praised his attacking players' confidence and hopes they can build on it against Portland Timbers on Wednesday.

The Galaxy came from 2-0 down with a superb second-half comeback against rivals Los Angeles FC last time out, winning 4-2 to go seven points clear in the Western Conference.

They have lost just one of their last five MLS matches, but that did come in their last away match, a 2-1 defeat to St. Louis City.

However, Vanney insisted his team can find the balance they need at both ends of the field to get another win.

"This team is built to attack, especially if you look at the guys we have on the field," Vanney said.

"We have some high-quality attacking guys. Over the course of the year, we've grown a ton of confidence to score goals and finish chances, but it comes down to the balance of being able to do that and being able to defend by not giving up things."

They face a Portland team coming off the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss to Colorado Rapids at the weekend, leaving them eighth in the table.

The Timbers have won just one of their last four league outings, though that did come at home against Seattle Sounders.

Head coach Phil Neville was disappointed by the weekend's defeat but admitted it would be quickly put behind them.

"At this stage of the season, you can't dwell on [losses]," Neville said.

"We can be frustrated and disappointed, the players are as well, but the game plan was there [against Colorado], we didn't execute it.

"But now it's back to Providence Park on Wednesday which will be an amazing game in an amazing atmosphere."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander has recorded an assist in eight consecutive home matches, equalling the MLS record set by Eric Wynalda in 1996-97.

Evander's nine straight matches overall with a goal contribution equals the Timbers' club record set by Diego Valeri in 2017.

LA Galaxy – Riqui Puig

Riqui Puig starred for the Galaxy in the derby against LAFC, scoring once and getting two assists. He is the third player to reach double-figure goals for LA Galaxy in the 2024 regular season (10, behind Dejan Joveljic on 14 and Gabriel Pec on 11).

This is the fourth time the Galaxy have had three different players score 10 goals in a season (1998, 2014, 2018), tied for the most such seasons in MLS history (San Jose Earthquakes).

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

Portland are unbeaten in 11 straight home matches in all competitions, winning nine of them (D2). This is the Timbers' longest home unbeaten run across all competitions since a 12-match stretch from April to July 2018.

However, the Galaxy are unbeaten in seven straight regular-season matches against Portland (W4 D3), including a 3-2 home win on July 20. The only longer unbeaten run against the Timbers in regular season play was an eight-match streak by Real Salt Lake from 2011-14.

The Galaxy have already won at Vancouver and drawn at Seattle this season. LA has avoided defeat in away matches against all three Cascadia clubs in a single season twice before, doing so in 2014 and 2016, but they are not the favourites to win here.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 45.2%

Draw – 26.9%

LA Galaxy – 28%

Phil Neville believes Portland Timbers can use their recent defeats as motivation in the second half of the season, starting with St. Louis City.

The Timbers' Leagues Cup run came to an end against Saturday's opponents, losing 3-1 in the round of 32 nearly three weeks ago.

They were in good form in MLS before that, and sit eighth in the Western Conference, but lost their last league game 3-2 against LA Galaxy before the break.

Now, Neville is targeting a strong finish to the regular season.

"In life sometimes you get a jolt or a little reminder of the work that needs to be done, and we got that," Neville said. 

"We've had a lot of plaudits and people saying good things about us, but our last result was a wake-up call to the work we still need to do to be successful in this league.

"We've got nine games left in the season, and we need the mentality to win these games."

After knocking out the Timbers, St. Louis were left disappointed in the quarter-final of the Leagues Cup following a 4-2 defeat to Club America.

They return to MLS action sitting 13th in the table, 10 points off the playoff places, and interim head coach John Hackworth is hopeful they can take the positives from their Cup run into the second half of the season.

"There are little details that slip, and we let guys have too much time on the ball, don't get matched up in the box, don't recover in the right way," Hackworth said.

"Those are things that teams can learn to do for sure. We can create really great chances and have lots of positives to take away from games."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander has recorded a goal contribution in each of his last six regular-season appearances. The only longer streak in Timbers' history was a nine-match run with a goal contribution by Diego Valeri in 2017.

St. Louis City – Roman Burki

St. Louis have managed just three wins in their last 30 MLS road games in all competitions and are winless in each of their last 15, dating back to last October (six draws, nine losses).

They have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last seven such matches, and if Roman Burki is able to get a clean sheet, he may be able to help them end that streak.

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

St. Louis defeated the Timbers 3-1 in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 at home on August 9. It was the first home win by either team against the other in four all-time meetings.

Portland have scored at least twice in an MLS-high 19 of their 25 matches this regular season, including the last seven in a row. The Timbers have scored two or more goals 20 or more times in an MLS season just once before, doing so in 2014 (21 times).

Meanwhile, St. Louis have managed just one win in their last 14 regular-season matches (four draws, nine losses), a 2-0 victory over league-worst San Jose Earthquakes in July.

In fact, since that run began in mid-May, San Jose (four) are the only team that have collected fewer points than St. Louis City (seven).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 51.5%

Draw – 24.7%

St. Louis City – 23.8%

Bradley Carnell is taking last week's 3-3 draw with Inter Miami as a sign of St. Louis City making huge strides in attack, as they prepare to host the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

St. Louis sit 11th in the Western Conference, three points behind the improving Timbers, after playing out a thrilling draw with Lionel Messi and company.

That result ended a three-match losing run for Carnell's team, and he hopes it will represent something of a turning point in their season.

"When you score three goals and create the amount of chances we did, I saw a lot of good things against a counter-pressing Miami team with a full roster," Carnell said.

"To go away from home and score three goals, it gives me a lot of hope. We've been working hard on exploiting space in transition as that's our bread and butter.

"We're excited about the development of some of the guys, we're happy for the success they're now getting. That gives me hope for the games coming up."

The Timbers, meanwhile, have taken seven points from their last three games to move into a playoff position, drawing 2-2 with the Houston Dynamo following wins over Sporting Kansas City (2-1) and Austin FC (2-0).

Boss Phil Neville said: "We're looking forward to the game, it's always tough to go to St. Louis. They're a high-pressing team that don't give you a moment on the ball.

"The players have trained well all week, coming off the back of a really good week. We put in a massive effort.

"We're focused for tomorrow. It's going to be a good game and we're really looking forward to it."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

St. Louis City – Indiana Vassilev

Vassilev scored just his second goal of the year against Miami last time out. 

Only Celio Pompeu (34) and Joao Klauss (21) have topped his 20 key passes this term among St. Louis team-mates, so he could hold the key to opening up the Timbers.

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander assisted two of the Timbers' goals last time out, taking his total to seven assists this season, along with seven goals.

No Portland player had ever reached seven goals and seven assists in fewer than 18 appearances at the start of an MLS season before this year (Diego Valeri doing so in both 2017 and 2018).

MATCH PREDICTION – ST. LOUIS CITY WIN

St. Louis and Portland both recorded 2-1 away wins over one another last season, with both games being played before the end of April. Three of the six goals in those matches were scored in the 75th minute or later.

St. Louis' 3-3 draw with Miami last week was their 15th regular-season game with at least three goals scored, two more than any other team since they joined MLS last year.

Coming up against a leaky Portland defence, which has shipped 32 goals in just 17 matches this term, Carnell's men could get some joy.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

St. Louis City – 43.5%

Portland Timbers – 29.7%

Draw – 26.8% 

Phil Neville believes Portland Timbers' hard work is starting to show ahead of their game against Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

The Timbers have won three of their last four games, including both at home in that run, and sit ninth in the Western Conference.

Against Austin FC on Wednesday, they kept their first clean sheet of the season with a 2-0 victory.

Neville is hopeful Portland can continue to build on their recent momentum as they look to close the gap to the teams above them.

"There's a good cohesion to the team and a good structure. The players are now doing their jobs and doing it to the ability that you expect," Neville said.

"The last two or three games we've seen a continuation of the work we've been doing. We knew we had a lot of work to do to change things here and that it would take time, and I'm super proud of them all.

"If we really believe in what we're doing and have confidence to be the team that we can be, then we have to go again on Saturday. There's no looking back and resting on your laurels. You've got to be ruthless and got to be relentless."

Houston sit eighth in the league, two points better off than Saturday's opponents, and won 3-1 against Colorado Rapids in midweek.

"This is a team that is always thinking to go forward," assistant coach Juan Guerra said.

"We're very focused on playing attractive possession style soccer to go forward and be able to create opportunities. On [Wednesday], it went in, and I hope it keeps going in, starting with Saturday."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander scored his seventh goal of the season on Wednesday to go along with five assists in his 12 appearances this season. The only other Timbers player to record 12 goal contributions in his first 12 games of a season was Diego Valeri in his 2017 MVP season.

Houston Dynamo – Latif Blessing

Blessing has found the net in consecutive games for the first time in almost five years, since doing so for Los Angeles FC in August 2019.

Blessing's two goals in the last week came after he had scored just two goals in his previous 89 MLS appearances dating back to the start of the 2021 season.

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

With their win at Austin on Wednesday, the Timbers have won three of their last four matches (L1) after winning just two of their first 12 matches this season (D4 L6). Portland's 2-0 win over Austin on Wednesday also ended a run of 20 straight matches allowing a goal.

However, the Dynamo have won three straight matches against Portland after going winless in the previous eight meetings (D3 L5). Neither team have managed four straight wins over the other in all competitions.

Houston won for just the second time in nine matches in all competitions with a 3-1 victory over Colorado on Wednesday. It was the Dynamo's first three-goal performance since their last visit to Portland, a 3-1 win on Decision Day last season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 42.1%

Draw – 26.7%

Houston Dynamo – 31.2%