FC Dallas play host to San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday evening with both teams needing to kick-start their MLS campaigns.
The home side will head into this fixture sitting in 10th position in the Western Conference table, two points adrift of the visitors who are in eighth.
However, they have the advantage of a game in hand, providing that they use it, as they bid to remain on the coattails of the top seven.
Both teams have been inconsistent throughout the 2025 season, something that is highlighted when each of them have only prevailed in one of their last six MLS encounters.
How the bookies see it: Minor advantage to Dallas?
Such is the form of these two teams that the lowest-priced betting odds here is the 23/20 on offer for a FC Dallas win.
That is purely down to them playing at home, but Eric Quill's side have won just one of their seven fixtures at the Toyota Stadium.
BoyleSports are offering 5/2 for the draw and 17/10 for an away victory. San Jose Earthquakes have won three of their nine games on their travels.
Head to head: Earthquakes to build on history?
From 74 matches between these two teams, San Jose Earthquakes have won 26 times in comparison to 19 for Dallas.
Furthermore, they have netted 22 more times – 113 goals to 91 – while they prevailed 3-2 when the teams last met back in October, that fixture taking place at PayPal Park.
On the flip side to the argument, however, that is the only time that the Earthquakes have won in eight games, albeit with five of them ending in draws.
Neither team has kept a clean sheet in this contest for 10 matches, a run spanning back to a goalless draw back in 2019.
Players to watch: Two attacks in form
Although FC Dallas have netted 22 times from 17 games, they have had 10 different goalscorers, Lucho Acosta and Petar Musa top-scoring with five.
The pair contributed three of the goals in the recent 4-2 victory at Sporting Kansas City and the pair deserve equal respect ahead of this match.
San Jose Earthquakes have netted 13 more times than their opponents this season with Cristian Arango leading the way with nine goals.
While he may have failed to score against Portland Timbers last time out, the Colombian had previously netted five times in as many matches.
Predicted lineups: Suspension boosts and blows
FC Dallas are able to welcome Lalas Abubakar into their squad with the centre-back having served a one-match suspension.
Despite impressing on his first start of the campaign, Alvaro Augusto is likely to be the player to drop out of the team.
San Jose Earthquakes, meanwhile, are dealing with the suspension of Ian Harkes, who was dismissed for two yellow cards versus Portland Timbers.
Mark-Anthony Kaye was introduced soon after his sending off and seems likely to be selected in the engine room.
Preston Judd came off the substitutes' bench to net the equaliser last time out, but he may have to remain patient with a place among the replacements.
FC Dallas: Paes; Moore, Abubakar, Ibeagha, Farfan; Julio, Delgado, Lletget, Pedrinho; Musa, Acosta
San Jose Earthquakes: Daniel; Rodrigues, Munie, Romney; Jones, Leroux, Kaye, Costa; Espinoza, Pellegrino; Arango
Anything else catch the eye?
San Jose Earthquakes possess the sixth-best away record in the Western Conference, whereas FC Dallas have the second-worst home record in the division.
Meanwhile, FC Dallas have only netted four times in seven home games. San Jose Earthquakes have scored 10 goals in their nine away outings.
However, it is worth noting that Dallas, unusually, have the best attacking record in away games, scoring 18 times, so their lack of strikes on familiar territory feels like an anomaly.
Nevertheless, San Jose Earthquakes make the trip to Texas having accumulated eight points from their last five away matches.
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