The Portland Timbers are back in action for the first time in 10 days with a 2 pm, nationally televised Sunday clash with the New York Red Bulls at Providence Park. With just six games left in the regular season, the Timbers are clinging to the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Each game, especially each remaining home game, is now of the utmost importance.

This one promises to be an attractive contest. The Red Bulls, the Eastern Conference's best team all season, are in the running for the Supporters' Shield, but will be dealing with a major absence of their own on Sunday. Portland has played well in recent weeks, but results haven't followed. Now, the chance for a signature win looms.

The History

This is the Red Bulls' first trip to Portland since Opening Day 2013. That game, also televised by ESPN2, was Caleb Porter's first as Timbers manager—it was Mike Petke's first in charge of the Red Bulls as well—and it was an absolute barn burner.

New York took the lead early on a gaffe by Mikael Silvestre, only to see Diego Valeri equalize with a terrific goal on his debut. Portland would be down 3-1 though going into the break, only to storm back in the second half, grab a late game-tying goal, and then almost win the game 4-3 on a Ryan Johnson bicycle kick.

That match began the modern era of Timbers soccer, and the stunning attacking transformation from the winter of 2012 to the spring of 2013 won Porter immediate cache as a professional coach. Both teams would go on to a successful 2013—with the Red Bulls winning the Shield and the East and the Timbers winning the West—but last year, when these teams' only meeting was won 2-1 by Portland in New York, was harder.

The Timbers missed the playoffs, while the Red Bulls, despite a trip to the Eastern Conference Final, fired fan favorite Petke and had something of a fan rebellion on their hands. Jesse Marsch has come in and refashioned New York as a well-oiled, high-pressing side to great success. Portland's 2015, on the other, could still go boom or bust.

The Tactics

The Timbers have their team back. Will Johnson and Alvas Powell return from national team duty, with Liam Ridgewell and Diego Chara back from suspension. The return of the central midfielders spells the end of a very impressive two-match run for the partnership of Jack Jewsbury and George Fochive.

Ridgewell and Powell will return to make up the full first-choice backline, while the Timbers front four, comprised of Darlington Nagbe, Valeri, Lucas Melano, and Fanendo Adi, is more settled than it has been all season.

The Red Bulls will be without their captain Dax McCarty, a major miss coming off of a midweek loss at New England. Between McCarty's absence, a short turnaround from playing on the punishing turf at Gillette Stadium, and a cross-country flight, New York might not come out high press for 90 minutes.

Although Portland would love to absorb pressure counter with the likes of Nagbe and Melano against a Red Bulls' team whose biggest vulnerability is speed, the Timbers might have to control the game and break New York down. It will be an interesting battle between Porter and Marsch, two of the league's best tacticians.

The Lineup

12 - Kwarasey
2 - Powell
24 - Ridgewell
7 - Borchers
19 - Villafaña
4 - W. Johnson (C)
21 - Chara
6 - Nagbe
8 - Valeri
26 - Melano
9 - Adi

The Pick

Timbers-Red Bulls games have always been high-scoring, high-tempo affairs. Portland's offense is on the cusp of a huge game. That, plus the wear and tear on the Red Bulls, will be enough for a 2-1 Timbers win.