Columbus Crew will be without club-record signing Lucas Zelarayan against Montreal Impact, but Caleb Porter is confident injuries will not derail their Supporters' Shield bid.
Zelarayan has five goals and four assists in 2020 but has made just nine starts in his debut MLS season.
After ankle and knee issues, the Designated Player is now nursing a hamstring injury.
"With Lucas, it's definitely a high hamstring," coach Porter said. "He's definitely out this next game.
"We'll have a timeline how long he'll be out, but it's probably a couple of weeks, maybe more."
Yet despite Zelarayan's inability to stay on the field, the Crew are top of the Supporters' Shield standings - ahead of Toronto on goal difference - and in high spirits.
Porter explained: "I think you gain confidence when you go to your bench and you get results.
"It works the other way: you rotate and you don't get results and now you lose confidence and those guys lose confidence.
"So, I think what we have going right now, because we've had to manage a lot of injuries, we have confidence and the guys have confidence that, when we rotate and when it's next man up, we can still win. I think we're seeing that."
By contrast, Montreal are winless in five and an error from usually dependable goalkeeper Clement Diop did not help matters in last week's draw with Chicago Fire.
Thierry Henry stood by his player, though, saying: "How many times did he save us? Sometimes it can happen that you're going to make a mistake.
"We conceded the goal - it can happen - but Clement has been magnificent in games for us."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew - Jonathan Mensah
The Crew's strong defensive record has taken a hit in recent weeks, so it will fall on Jonathan to help get them back on track. The centre-back - left out of Ghana's squad - is one of the league's top defenders on his day and must provide a platform for the team's attacking stars.
Montreal Impact - Lassi Lappalainen
Lappalainen has scored twice in his past three matches, his first goal against New England Revolution winning back a starting spot before the second pegged back Chicago at the weekend. He will head away on international duty after this match so will aim to leave Henry with some food for thought.
KEY OPTA FACTS
- The Crew have won nine of their 12 home matches against Montreal in MLS (D2 L1), including the past three in a row. The Impact's only ever win at MAPFRE Stadium was a 2-1 victory in June 2015 thanks to goals from Maxim Tissot and Andres Romero.
- After collecting one point in two matches on the road, the Crew return home where they have won all six matches they have played this season, outscoring opponents 12-1. The last team to win their first seven home matches of a season was San Jose Earthquakes, who won their first 10 at home in 2002.
- The Impact are winless in five straight matches (D1 L4) despite scoring in every game in that span. Montreal have conceded at least two goals in seven straight matches for the first time in the club's MLS history.
- Pedro Santos has been directly involved in nine goals (four goals, five assists) since the MLS regular season resumed. Only Alejandro Pozuelo (10) has been involved in more. He has scored or assisted five of the Crew's past seven goals.
- Montreal have scored in a club-record 16 consecutive away matches dating back to a 3-0 loss at Philadelphia Union in April 2019. Twelve different Impact players have scored at least once in that run.