With just one point separating them after the first eight games, Sporting Kansas City and St Louis City go head-to-head at the Children's Mercy Park on Sunday.
The home side were on the receiving end of a narrow defeat last time out, while their visitors showed great resolve to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Match preview
© Reuters
Sporting Kansas City just about came away empty-handed from a thrilling 3-2 contest against Inter Miami at the Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
Peter Vermes's men took the lead early on through Erik Thommy but found themselves trailing to strikes from Diego Gomez and Lionel Messi before Thommy levelled matters just shy of the hour mark, only for Luis Suarez to decide the game 19 minutes from time.
As a result, the Wizards have dropped down to ninth place in the Western Conference of the MLS table, one point ahead of the chasing pack in the race for playoff contention.
Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing side who have just about being on the wrong end of this fixture more times than not with two wins and three defeats from the previous five editions.
Having let in three goals in each of their last three home involvements, Sunday's hosts will need to keep things tight at the back if they are to secure maximum points in front of their fans.
© Reuters
St Louis City snapped a run of five games without a win stretching back to early March by beating Austin FC 1-0 at the CITY PARK on Sunday.
Bradley Carnell's men opened the scoring three minutes shy of the hour mark through Joao Klauss, and that was enough to get the job done in a drab affair.
With 11 points from eight matches so far, the Missouri-based outfit sit eighth in the Western Conference, outside the final automatic playoff spot only on goal difference.
Winless in six consecutive away outings leading up to this weekend's affair, Sunday's visitors have been abysmal on the road of late and will be keen to turn their fortunes around.
Team News
Sporting Kansas' Logan Ndenbe is still sidelined with a knee injury, while forward Khiry Shelton continues to battle with an ankle problem.
The home side will also be without the services of Johnny Russell due to a torn hamstring, and the Scot is joined on the sidelines by Memo Rodriguez.
Following his double last time out, Erik Thommy has now been directly contributed to five goals in eight matches, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Njabulo Blom and Eduard Lowen are both ruled out for St Louis with respective hamstring injuries, but the latter is drawing closer to a return to action.
Thirty-year-old Joakim Nilsson could make his comeback from a rib problem this weekend, having been fit enough to be named on the visitors' bench against Austin.
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Davis, Rosero, Fontas, Leibold; Walter, Radoja; Thommy, Pulido, Salloi, Agada
St Louis City possible starting lineup:
Burki; Totland, Parker, Hiebert, Markanich; Durkin, Ostrak; Alm, Vassilev, Pompeu; Klauss
We say: Sporting Kansas City 2-1 St Louis City
There is little to pick between the sides, and Sunday's clash could easily swing either way. That said, we just about fancy the home side to edge out their visitors and come out on top in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
