Austin FC, Rapids keeping early eye on playoff positioning

The first weekend in June is not too early to think about making the playoffs.

That will be the attitude for Austin FC and the Colorado Rapids when they meet Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo.

The Rapids (6-6-4, 22 points) have won two of their past three matches and stand in eighth place in the Western Conference -- above the playoff line -- and they see their three-match homestand beginning Saturday as crucial.

"We have to take advantage of the next three games, particularly playing here to move up the standings," Rapids forward Rafael Navarro said.

Austin (5-7-5, 20 points) is not far behind in 10th place but is 0-4-4 over the past eight MLS matches. Coach Nico Estevez said he is optimistic his team will qualify for the postseason.

"You have to build the team throughout the end of the season, because there are teams that start really, really strong, and then they fade during the year," he said. "And then there are teams that start slow ... and they arrive to the playoffs, and they arrive to the final, and they win the championship.

"If we have the mindset that we are building something right towards the end of the season, we can be successful."

It won't be easy unless things change. Austin has only 11 goals this season, and its minus-9 goal differential is tied for fourth-worst in MLS.

While Brandon Vazquez has four goals, he has not received much support, and Austin will be without forward Myrto Uzuni, who is away with the Albanian national team.

Colorado's combo of Djordje Mihailovic (seven goals) and Navarro (five) have combined to outscore Austin FC, and Navarro has scored in three of the past four matches against them.

Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen was with U.S. national team when he injured his knee in training on Wednesday and reportedly will be out four to six weeks.

Nonetheless, coach Chris Armas said the Rapids must persevere.

"We did the simple math and see what three points can mean," he said. "We want to keep building on what we've been doing as of late."