COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After a week off, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC enters its final seven matches of the 2017 USL regular season determined to seal a place in the USL Cup Playoffs. But having played more matches than any other team in the USL Western Conference, the Switchbacks will need to be at their best to get the points needed make a third consecutive trip to the postseason.

“We need all the points we can get in these next seven games. We are taking each game by game and the players are focused and determined,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.

With just seven games to go, while sitting just three points away from missing out on the playoffs, the Switchbacks need to maximize their return from their remaining contest. Even then, the situation isn't entirely in their own hands thanks to teams around them having games in hand. That fact is reflected in their average finishing position in the USL Race for the Playoffs of 8.8, putting them right on the bubble between making and missing out on the postseason.

As challenging as the path ahead looks, not only having to win games themselves but potentially needing help from elsewhere, it's not concerning Trittschuh.

“We are just looking at our next game,” he said. “We can't do anything about how we have played the most games and other teams have a lot of games in hand. We can only worry about getting results we need.”

Colorado Springs comes into its match against Sacramento Republic FC following two disappointing results. While the loss to league leader Real Monarchs SLC on the road was certainly understandable, the 2-1 defeat to the LA Galaxy II at Weidner Field was a tough one to take, coming via an own goal inside the final five minutes.

Trittschuh has focused on the positive aspects of those performances over the negatives, though, as he looks to build up the team's confidence as it enters the final stretch.

“We take a lot out of those two matches,” said Trittschuh. “In the Monarchs game I thought we played well, giving up two goals off corners. In the LA game we just did not finish the chances we created and two defensive errors cost us two goals.”

Those results continued a pattern for the Switchbacks as it came directly after a run of three consecutive victories. If there's one thing the Switchbacks have been unable to do this season, it has been to put a long undefeated streak together. The run of wins against Seattle Sounders FC 2, the Portland Timbers 2 and fellow playoff contender Orange County SC was the club's longest winning, and undefeated, streak of the season. Just when things looked to be looking up for Colorado Springs, the losses brought them back down to earth, and back in to the fight for the Playoffs.

But belief is there for the Switchbacks. At this stage of the season it has to be, or the club would not even be in this fight.

“The players believe that we can go on a run and finish the season strong," said Trittschuh. "Every game coming we are approaching it like a playoff game so when the playoffs come we will be ready."

Travelling to Republic FC is a daunting prospect for many teams, with Sacramento's average attendance the second-highest in the USL at 11,569, which creates an intimidating atmosphere. For the Switchbacks this is compounded by their poor record on the road, where they have gone 3-7-3 this season.

But like so many in the league, the Switchbacks have been in the matches they have lost on the road, only losing three by more than one goal. 

“Other than the first Monarchs game away that we lost 5-2 we have played pretty well on the road,” said Trittschuch. “We just need to keep playing with confidence away from home and be optimistic that we will get in the playoffs. At the moment with the teams and points above us we are focused on getting in the playoffs.”

READ MORE: USL Race for the Playoffs – Aug. 31-Sept 3

While Colorado Springs sit in a playoff place right now, that could all change in a crucial Western Conference contest on Saturday. With Republic FC sitting only two points ahead of Colorado Springs, and on a three-game winless streak of its own, a win would make things look much more secure for the Switchbacks, while throwing Sacramento right back in to the mix for the lower playoff positions.

Despite Republic FC's recent difficulties, which has seen the side fail to take victory in its last two outings at Papa Murphy's Park, the respect for Sacramento's ability remains within the Switchbacks' camp.

At the same time, the visitors on Saturday night know just how much the contest means to their playoff aspirations.

“We know they are a quality team and we have had two weeks to prepare for them," said Trittschuh. "The team is ready to go to Sacramento and get a result.”