LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After winning the 2017 USL Cup, Louisville City FC begins its title defense on Saturday as it hosts newcomers Nashville SC at Louisville Slugger Field (3 p.m. ET | Match Center). Preseason has led to encouraging signs as Louisville got through its preparations undefeated.

“We’ve been pleased. I think through the course of our preseason we were able to get a lot of work done,” said Louisville Head Coach James O’Connor. “I don’t necessarily think being undefeated was necessarily something that was a priority. I think the biggest thing for us was making sure we’re getting minutes and people get a good understanding of our attacking and defensive principles and defensive transitions –they’re both really important aspects for us. So we’re hopeful that there’s a good understanding of what we’re trying to do.”

For Louisville the 2018 season will start at the same venue with all those good memories for the club, having lifted the USL Cup in front of a crowd of almost 15,000 home fans last November, something which has O’Connor pleased.

“I think I’ve said this many times but we’ve got the most passionate and the best supporters in the league. When you look at the passion that they bring, it creates a very exciting atmosphere and we’re certainly looking forward to getting back out and playing in front of them.”

But in Nashville the defending champion has an interesting test, an expansion side, with little knowledge able to be discovered during preseason matches.

“It’s very difficult when you play against a brand-new team that has no real history. I think to try and get a gauge on what they’re going to do, what personnel, what formation,” said O’Connor. “I think it’s pretty difficult to get a good steer on that. Obviously, they’ve got massive plans there. They’ve got a very experienced coach and they’ve got very experienced players, so we’re expecting a very tough game.”

WAIT FINALLY OVER FOR NASHVILLE: It has been a long wait for Nashville soccer fans since the announcement of a USL expansion side in May, 2016 to finally welcome their team on the field in its first USL match, but now the club is ready for its first steps into the professional ranks as it visits Louisville for one of this weekend's must-see games.

“For the last 18 months, Nashville SC has allowed the community to be a part of building this club,” said Nashville SC CEO Court Jeske. “Now, with the first official match finally here, there is a crescendo of energy for pro soccer that transitions to the field; wins and losses, goals and saves.  We also recognize that our expansion comes at a time when the entire league is on the rise, and Nashville SC is honored to be a part of that.”

Nashville's playing and coaching staff have been just as eager to get going as the fans and Jeske, with this week in training having an especially exciting feel to it.

“[Training] been good. It’s one of those things where the weeks have been quick, but you want them to be quicker with three points on the line,” said NSC defender Liam Doyle. “This Saturday it starts for real, and I think we’re ready for that. We have been for a while.”

Starting life as a USL team against the defending champions is one heck of a way to get started, but it does not have Head Coach Gary Smith worried.

“If you got aspirations of doing well as a group, which we have, if you want to be winners, you’ve got to play the best. You might as well play them straight away and find out where you’re at,” said Smith. “There’s no point in [messing] around and winning the first game handsomely against a side that you find out that’s ended up rock bottom of the league. You’ve got a false sense of security then. So, we’re going to get one of the toughest challenges and certainly be ready for it. The players are up for it. There’s absolutely no reason why we won’t do well in the game, but what the result will be, I have no idea.”

VINCENT JOINS RIVERHOUNDS SC ACADEMY: After a long career, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC legend Rob Vincent announced both his retirement from the professional game this week and the next chapter in his career. On Monday the former USL All-League First Team selection was unveiled by Riverhounds SC as the latest addition to the coaching staff in the Riverhounds Academy. For Vincent this is the fulfilment of his career plan from when he was just a youngster starting out.

“From 16 to 17 years old I knew that once the playing stopped, whenever that may be, that I wanted to stay in the sport in some capacity and in the past few years I really honed in on putting the foundations in place,” said Vincent.

The move to coaching is an unsurprising one, with his experience in coaching young players starting back when he was in college at the University of Charleston (W.Va.) coaching youth teams. Since then Vincent was involved with the academy at Pittsburgh as a player and at D.C. United he worked on strengthening his qualifications.

“I’d always planned to go to coaching right after playing, although I hoped it wasn’t this soon,” said Vincent, whose career came to an end after a serious knee injury suffered playing for United last spring. “Now that the time has come I’m very ready to jump in and fully commit to being the best coach I can be in the future.”

As Vincent enters a new stage in his soccer career, moving from the pitch to the sidelines he takes inspiration in this role from his early career experiences.

“I was very fortunate growing up to be in some good academies in England, Everton, Crewe Alexandria, and Stockport so I was able to play under some really good coaches, and that’s what I want to be able to pass down now to the players in the academy,” said Vincent. “I want to prepare them for the next step, whether that’s college or playing professionally, I want to be able help those players making that next step.”