Austin FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Our prediction and preview are in

Two teams on opposite ends of the MLS Western Conference standings will meet when Austin FC faces the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at PayPal Park.

The Verde & Black are one of the hottest teams in the league with 19 points in their last nine games, a stretch that has pushed them up to third in the conference, while San Jose sits in last place in the West with only three wins and 10 points.

Here’s what you need to know about the match as Austin FC embarks upon another three-games-in-eight-days stretch:

Austin FC will have a limited roster … again

With the waiving of designated player Emiliano Rigoni as the Verde & Black bought out his contract Tuesday, the trend of having extremely limited depth continues. But t’s exacerbated by the fact that outside backs Guiherme Biro and Jon Gallagher are questionable with injuries, and head coach Josh Wolff noted he might have only 16 players available.

Austin FC has had a full week off, but if Biro and Gallagher can’t provide substantial minutes, Wolff will have some finagling to do with his lineup.

Expect veteran Hector Jiménez to see significant minutes, and maybe even start, at right back. Owen Wolff also seems to be an option to play at one of the outside back spots, even though he played a solid game on the left wing against Kansas City. With Jáder Obrian, Ethan Finlay and CJ Fodrey, Austin FC is currently in better shape on the wings than at outside back if Biro and Gallagher are sidelined.

“We are thin at a lot of spots, but it doesn’t matter,” Josh Wolff said. “We have to go out and get results. … With these numbers, we have to approach games in a real meticulous way and a responsible, disciplined way.”

Dani Pereira has high goals for career

Midfielder Dani Pereira played arguably the best game of his career vs. Kansas City.

He provided two assists, was aggressive in taking on and beating defenders, and was easily one of the top players on the field. After the game, he said he’s more comfortable playing farther up the field than in the defensive midfielder position he usually plays, and Josh Wolff said he has goals to eventually play in Europe.

“I think Dani is a good player who has continued to develop,” said Wolff, who spent time in Germany during his playing career. “I think his maturity has to continue to develop. … I challenge him in training and talk to him candidly about these things. (Negative) body language, reaction to your teammates and reactions to situations, when you go abroad there’s no tolerance for that.”

Austin FC and San Jose usually provide entertainment

Austin FC has a tradition of playing high-scoring games with the Earthquakes. They’re usually up-and-down, highly entertaining contests, something the Verde & Black might not want to get into considering the team's roster situation and that it will play twice in the following seven days.

“They’re one of the fastest teams and most athletic teams in MLS,” Wolff said. “They can score a lot of goals. They can also give up a lot of goals. But they have the potency and the attack.”

And though San Jose is the worst team in the West, has allowed the most goals in MLS and has a fan base that chanted against owner John Fisher, who also owns MLB’s Oakland A’s, in a recent home match, a win isn’t something to take for granted. Austin FC's win over the Earthquakes at Q2 Stadium earlier this season was the first in club history, and San Jose is 2-2-1 since acquiring midfielder Hernan Lopez on April 25.

Still, all of the Earthquakes’ talent is in the midfield or at forward, so expect Sebastián Driussi, Diego Rubio and Obrian to have plenty of scoring chances.

Austin FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes prediction

Austin FC 2, San Jose 2: Predicting road wins in MLS is never wise, and with the Verde & Black possibly having no depth at outside back or on the wing, I’m not doing so here. As with all road games, picking up a point is the goal. But with a tough road match at Western Conference leader Real Salt Lake looming on June 1, when a result looks almost impossible for travel and roster reasons, taking three points here would go a long way.

Saturday's match

Austin FC (6-4-4, 22 points) at San Jose Earthquakes (3-10-1, 10 points), 9:30 p.m., PayPal Park, Apple TV, 97.5, 104.3 (Spanish)

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Our prediction and preview are in