SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After late heroics preserved Sacramento Republic FC’s undefeated record last weekend, Head Coach Simon Elliott is looking for his side to get out to a strong start when it plays host to Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Saturday night at Papa Murphy’s Park (10:30 p.m. ET | Match Center).

“We want to be positive and aggressive and get after it,” said Elliott. “We're playing a good team and they've got some young players and some very good players. They've got players that are knocking on the door of their first team so they'll be motivated and hungry. It’s going to be another tough game and we're looking forward to it.”

Sacramento overcame a missed penalty kick by Keven Alemán to score twice in the final 10 minutes against Rio Grande Valley FC, which included a stoppage-time own goal that earned a 2-2 draw at H-E-B Park. Republic FC didn’t quite click into gear fully in its two road games over the past two weeks, recording only five shots on goal overall, something the side will be looking to improve on as it returns home.

“I think we're going to be amped,” said Alemán. We're preparing the best way we can so that we can take the three points. Last weekend [was] a hard game [and] a tough team and we got a point away from home and that’s what matters.”

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Seattle enters on a two-game losing streak after having fallen in its last outing to Fresno FC on March 28. S2 has looked dangerous in all three contests this season, however, with the likes of newcomer Nick Hinds – who signed this offseason after his sophomore season at the University of Akron – adding to improvement from returning S2 forwards David Olsen and Felix Chenkam that has seen the side average 11 shots per game so far this year.

S2 will need to overcome the edge Sacramento has held in the head-to-head series between the teams when it visits Papa Murphy’s Park on Saturday, however, with the visitors having never taken victory on the road, and only one victory overall in previous meetings between the teams – when they met for the first time to kick off the 2015 USL season.

After picking up a 2-0 victory when the teams met last in Sacramento a season ago, Republic FC’s players are aiming to make their home-field edge count again.

“It’s another opportunity to get three points and we're looking to take advantage of it,” said Republic FC midfielder Adam Moffatt. “This week we're at Papa Murphy’s Park and we want to impose our game at home.”