Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sunday morning's MLS action brings the Western Conference face-to-face with the Eastern Conference when Real Salt Lake hosts Orlando City at America First Field.

Salt Lake are undefeated in all competitions since the start of June, while Orlando are on a four-game unbeaten run in the league.

Match preview

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Odd as it sounds, Salt Lake may be unhappy at returning to Utah to host Orlando this weekend due to their wretched results in front of their fans.

Pablo Mastroeni's team have the second-fewest points accrued at home (10) in the Western Conference, which is a stark contrast to having the best road record in that section, picking up 20 points from 11 games on their travels.

Those away points account for RSL's standing in the playoff spots, and they could rise as high as second in the Western Conference if they win this weekend and both Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC lose their games.

However, an awful record on their turf means the home side cannot look that far ahead but look downwards in the table, with fifth-placed Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo all closing in on Mastroeni's men.

Failure to score in three of the last five at their ground inspires little confidence, even if they have picked up draws in three of four in front of their fans.

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Orlando could inflict Salt Lake's fifth home defeat in this year's MLS by making the most of their impressive road form this season.

Oscar Pareja's troops have picked up more away points than anyone in the Eastern Conference, and success this weekend would add to the 15 they have accrued.

Only Charlotte FC (15) have netted more than the Lions' 14 road goals, a statistic that puts Orlando in a positive light because the former have played two more away games than Pareja's side.

The visitors are four points clear of Salt Lake in the combined MLS table and are guaranteed to stay ahead regardless of the result this weekend.

Due to the five-point lead they have on eighth-placed DC United; Orlando are also guaranteed to remain in the top seven regardless of the upcoming game's outcome.

Team News

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Zack Farnsworth (hamstring) and Axel Kei (ankle) are ruled out, having not played all season for RSL.

Erik Holt has not played since injuring his shoulder in May, and the defender is sidelined this weekend.

Abdi Salim is still absent with a knee injury and will not feature for Orlando on Sunday morning.

Cesar Araujo had a storming game in the Lions' 4-0 thrashing of Toronto FC, scoring and assisting in the resounding victory, and the central midfielder could have a decisive say in this weekend's outcome.

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:

MacMath; Eneli, Glad, Vera, Oviedo; Savarino, Ojeda, Loffelsend, Luna; Musovski, Kreilach

Orlando City possible starting lineup:

Gallese; Smith, Carlos, Jansson, Santos; Araujo, Cartagena; Torres, Pereyra, Angulo; McGuire

We say: Real Salt Lake 1-2 Orlando City

Despite failing to win their last two on the road, Orlando are expected to claim a slender win over Salt Lake, whose egregious home form should result in a fifth defeat in front of their supporters.

How to watch

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