Short on midfield depth, Austin FC looks to increase lead over FC Dallas in standings

If there’s a game that Austin FC had circled on the calendar when the MLS schedule was released in the offseason, it may be Saturday’s game against FC Dallas.

As El Tree returns to Q2 Stadium for a league match for the first time in more than a month, motivation won’t be lacking facing an in-state rival that sits right behind it in the Western Conference standings.

But aside from the game being a derby — a soccer term used for geographical rivalry matches — and having big implications for Copa Tejas — a trophy competition between the three Texas MLS teams — it represents a chance to beat Dallas for the first time.

More: Austin FC scores an important road win in win over CF Montreal, readies for FC Dallas next

While Austin FC has topped Houston three times in its brief history already, El Tree went 0-3 against FC Dallas a year ago and was denied the Copa Tejas trophy in a 2-1 late-season loss.

It’s something that’s stuck with the players that were on the team a year ago.

“We have a lot of unfinished business with FC Dallas,” Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver said. “They won Copa Tejas last year and they came into that final game strong. We didn’t respond and they got the better of us. One of our season goals is to win Copa Tejas and that started with Houston and continues with Dallas. This will be more than a normal game.”

For a game in late June, it has considerable implications.

Both teams are in the top four of the Western Conference table, with Austin FC slotted third, and each already owns a win over Houston.

Due to MLS expansion this season, the Texas teams only play each other twice now, so every match has added value, and the Copa Tejas winner will be determined over the next 23 days with the three teams all facing each other in that stretch.

More: After midseason break, Austin FC starts season's second half focused on postseason run

“There’s a small body of work that’s now layered into the derbies,” Austin FC coach Josh Wolff said. “From our standpoint, we need to stay humble and hungry of where we are in the league and we’re continuing to search for consistency individually and as a group. We’re playing against a very good team who is an in-state rival. We’re going to see them later in the year, but they beat us three times last year and our guys have heard that from me already. Our guys know where we sit with them in the standings and are aware of their qualities.”

Austin FC will be going into the game short on depth in the midfield.

Defensive midfielder Dani Pereira will miss this match after getting a red card in last week’s 1-0 win over Montreal, and Jhojan Valencia — who has essentially been Pereira’s backup this year — is recovering from minor knee surgery and will be out for several weeks.

“It’s something we’ll have to deal with over the next couple of games with limited numbers,” Wolff said. “There are some things we’ve been working on in practice. There’s competition throughout the group and we’ll do what makes the most sense.”

Wolff didn’t say exactly who would start for Pereira in his weekly press conference, but he did give some hints noting that Owen Wolff could move inside from the wing or veteran Felipe Martins could get his second start of the year.

FC Dallas also represents a coaching matchup against a longtime friend for Josh Wolff.

He and FC Dallas boss Nico Estévez coached together on Gregg Berhalter’s staffs at Columbus and the U.S. men’s national team.

Estévez is in his first year leading FC Dallas, and both coaches are in the running for MLS Coach of the Year award with how their clubs have played up to this point.

“There’s a lot of similarities to what we’ve been exposed to with our soccer ideas being in Columbus and being with Gregg and the national team, and they all evolve when you’re in your own setting,” Josh Wolff said. “We exchange phone calls consistently and I’m not surprised he’s having the success he is as he’s a very intellectual coach. It will be good to see him, but we don’t want to make his trip here too pleasant as we want to win the game.”

More: Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff already earning high praise from club's captain

MLS All-Star Game voting under way

Voting for the MLS All-Star Game has started and Austin FC should have several candidates, with the most obvious being forward Sebastián Driussi.

Driussi would be in the running for the league’s MVP award if the season ended today thanks to his eight goals, four assists and brilliant play in general, and he noted getting to the game would be an honor.

“I think it would be something really good for the club and me and a good experience for me to go to the game,” he said. “But the voting just opened, so I’ll keep working.”

El Tree fans can vote for Driussi and other Austin FC players on the MLS website.

Saturday's match

Austin FC vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m., Q2 Stadium, The CW Austin, 97.5

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC takes on FC Dallas in battle atop Western Conference in MLS