ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Charlotte Independence will seal a place in the USL Cup Playoffs if they can manage a draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium, but the Rowdies are aiming for a top-four position in the USL Eastern Conference as they return to action in front of their home fans. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Matchcenter: Click Here | Tickets: Click Here | Broadcast: ThisTV (TBR), WCCB (CLT)

Tampa Bay Rowdies news and notes

• Current record: 11-7-8, 41pts

• The Rowdies will come into this match well rested after taking a 3-2 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders in their last outing on Sept. 6 at FNB Field.

• Georgi Hristov scored two goals, including one from the penalty spot, and Martin Paterson scored the other in the vital win for the Rowdies, who rallied from a first-half deficit to take their second road win of the season. 

• The Rowdies were scheduled to face Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday, Sept. 9 to complete their trip to the northeast, but due to the threat of Hurricane Irma the game was postponed until Sept. 27.

• The Rowdies have been one of the best home sides in the USL this season, going 9-1-3 at Al Lang Stadium in their first season in the league with the lone loss coming on April 22 against the Charleston Battery. 

Charlotte Independence news and notes

• Current record: 13-6-9, 48pts

• The Independence can clinch a second consecutive trip to the USL Cup Playoffs if they manage to get a draw against the Rowdies on Saturday night.

• The Independence missed out on their chance to clinch a playoff place on Wednesday night when they suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Charleston Battery to open their road trip.

• Charlotte remains in second place in the USL Eastern Conference despite the result, but the Battery now sit only a point back with four games to go in the regular season. 

• Independence goalkeeper Cody Mizell has had an impressive season, and sits third in the USL with 80 saves this season. 

• Standout forward Enzo Martinez is currently tied for the league lead for goals with 16 alongside Reno 1868 FC's Dane Kelly, but is looking to find the net for the first time since scoring twice on Sept. 2 against the Richmond Kickers as the hunt for the Golden Boot continues.

Series Notes

• This is only the second match between the Rowdies and Independence, who played to a 2-2 draw on June 4.

Squads

• Tampa Bay –  GK: Matt Pickens, Akira Fitzgerald, Nico Campbell; D: Darnell King, Neill Collins, Luke Boden, Zac Portillos, Tam Mkandawire, Hunter Gorskie, Kyle Porter; M: Marcel Schafer, Darwin Jones, Walter Restrepo, Alex Morrell, Leo Fernandes, Justin Chavez, Sebastian Guenzatti, Keith Savage, Michael Nanchoff, Joe Cole, Martin Vingaard; F: Martin Paterson, Georgi Hristov

• Charlotte – GK: Cody Mizell, Kainoa Likewise, Kyle Renfro; D: Dennis Castillo, Austin Yearwood, Bilal Duckett, Sam Vines, Joel Johnson, Henry Kalungi, Luke Waechter, Ashani Fairclough, Donnie Smith; M: Zev Taublieb, Callum Ross, Jun Marques Davidson, Yann Ekra, David Estrada, Lewis Hilton, Dennis Tchinde, David Spies; F: Casey Townsend, Jorge Herrera, Jaime Siaj, Enzo Martinez, Caleb Calvert, Jacob Bender

Discipline

• Tampa Bay – Accumulation warning: Keith Savage, Georgi Hristov

• Charlotte – Suspended: Alex Martinez; Accumulation warning: Donald Smith

Officials

• REF: ROSENDO MENDOZA

• AR1: Matthew Osterhouse

• AR2: Jamie Willis

• 4TH: Jonathan Bilinski

Game hashtag:

• #TBRvCLT

Twitter social handles

• Tampa Bay Rowdies – @TampaBayRowdies

• Charlotte Independence – @CLTIndependence