SACRAMENTO, Calif. – There are plenty of firsts Sacramento Republic FC has accomplished in its previous four seasons, but on Wednesday night in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Papa Murphy’s Park (10:30 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN3) it will take aim at one that has been elusive.

The Switchbacks are 3-0-2 all-time in the series between the two clubs, and after Colorado Springs’ 4-0 victory this past Saturday against Reno 1868 FC on the first leg of their road trip, Republic FC Head Coach Simon Elliott is expecting a serious challenge for his side as the teams duel in the national spotlight.

“I think it's a tough game,” said Elliott. “Short turnaround for both teams and Colorado did very well in their last game. They're coming in on a high and they've stayed on the West Coast so travel won't be an issue for them. Big challenge for us.”

Republic FC almost landed its first blow in the series between the two sides when they last played at Papa Murphy’s Park, but a stoppage-time goal by Pascal Eboussi grabbed a point for the Switchbacks in dramatic fashion. While the Switchbacks have some different pieces in place from a season ago, Republic FC’s record against their visitors is one the club’s players are eager to end.

“They'll be coming in here with a lot of confidence after their 4-0 victory against Reno,” said Sacramento midfielder Adam Moffatt. “I know it’s a lot of different faces, but it’s a team that we've never beaten, so there is no better chance than Wednesday. We're going to be preparing as well as we can for it.”

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While the Switchbacks took four points from the two meetings between the teams a season ago, Sacramento did end up with the edge on Colorado Springs at the end of the year as it earned the eighth and final place in the USL Cup Playoffs by two points from the ninth-place Switchbacks. Sacramento also sits two points ahead of Colorado Springs in the current Western Conference standings, one of six undefeated sides still standing in the USL.

With Sacramento having rallied for a 1-1 draw with Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night that saw Christian Eissele score his second goal of the regular season, both teams are coming off short rest for the game, which should put them on a level playing field in terms of potential performance.

Moffatt is hoping having the club’s passionate fans behind them, say nothing of the added spotlight of the national broadcast, will help the side continue its best start to a season and end the Switchbacks’ undefeated run in the series.

“We've got to be locked in and we've got to be tuned in,” said Moffatt. “We all know what it is with back-to-back games and we've just got to keep the same focus, the same fight going into every game and the same belief. We just have to execute on Wednesday.

“It's at home and we obviously want to put our best foot forward for our fans at home. We always look forward to our home games and this is something we take very seriously.”