From purely a quality of play standpoint, Austin FC did well in its recent three-game stretch vs. Toronto, LAFC and Houston. However, that's also the stretch that will be pointed to if the club misses the playoffs as it gathered one point from it.

Real Salt Lake (14-7-9, 51 points) have clinched a playoff berth and begin the weekend in second place in the West. RSL is chasing the Los Angeles Galaxy for the conference's top spot and heads to Austin with four games left and a game in hand with the frontrunners.