LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kings’ Cup rivals Louisville City FC and Saint Louis FC raise the curtain on the 2017 USL regular season on Saturday afternoon as they square off at Louisville Slugger Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.

Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2nvENS5 | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2oaoiI1 | Broadcast: WDRB (LOU)

Louisville City FC news and notes

• Current record: 0-0-0, 0pts

• Louisville kicks off its third season aiming to continue its success, with the club having reached the Eastern Conference Final of the USL Cup Playoffs each of the past two years.

• Thirteen players have returned to the club for the 2017 season, led by goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh and midfielder George Davis IV. Newcomers to the squad include Brian Ownby (Richmond Kickers), Devon “Speedy” Williams (New York Red Bulls II) and Sean Totsch (Rochester Rhinos).

• City announced this week it had agreed to new contracts with Head Coach James O’Connor and his staff that will keep them with the club through the 2020 season.

• Louisville will have three players unavailable for Saturday’s  game, with Paco Craig and Sean Reynolds both suspended, and Mark-Anthony Kaye on international duty with Canada’s U23 National Team.

Saint Louis FC news and notes

• Current record: 0-0-0, 0pts

• Saint Louis FC returns to the Eastern Conference in 2017 with new Head Coach Preki looking to lead the club to the USL Cup Playoffs for the first time in its history.

• STLFC made a major overhaul of its squad for the new season, with 2016 USL All-League selection Devala Gorrick arriving from Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and 2013 USL Most Valuable Player Jose Angulo joining the squad.

• Saint Louis also signed five players who have claimed the USL Cup during their careers, with goalkeeper Adam Grinwis, defender Konrad Plewa, midfielders Ivan Mirkovic and Octavio Guzman and forward Christian Volesky joining the side.

• Saint Louis will be with without defender Erick Cabalceta on Saturday after the team announced he would be out for 4-6 weeks with a knee injury.

Series Notes

• Louisville claimed the Kings’ Cup in 2016 after sweeping the two-game series between the teams a season ago. The teams will meet again on July 22 at Toyota Stadium – Saint Louis.

Squads

• Louisville - GK: Greg Ranjitsingh, Tim Dobrowolski; D: Sean Totsch, Tarek Morad,  Kyle Smith, Oscar Jimenez, Sean Russell; M: Niall McCabe, Brian Ownby, Devon Williams, George Davis IV, Richard Ballard, Guy Abend, Paolo DelPiccolo; F: Ilija Ilic, Luke Spencer, Cameron Lancaster

• Saint Louis - GK: Devala Gorrick, Adam Grinwis; D: Austin Ledbetter, Wesley Charpie, A.J. Cochran, Konrad Plewa, Matt Sheldon, Aedan Stanley; M: Mats Bjurman, Sebastian Dalgaard, Octavio Guzman, Ivan Mirkovic, Dragan Stojkov, Max Alvarez, Tyler David, Nikiphoros Vlastos, Ryan Howe; F: Jose Angulo, Christian Volesky, Matteo Kidd

Discipline

• Louisville – Suspended: Paco Craig, Sean Reynolds

• Saint Louis – None

Officials

• REF: CALIN RADOSAV

• AR1: Art Arustamyan

• AR2: Cory Richardson

• 4TH: Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein

Game hashtag:

• #LOUvSTL

Twitter social handles

• Louisville City FC – @LouCityFC

• Saint Louis FC – @SaintLouisFC