With only seven games left in the MLS regular season, Orlando City is fighting to hold onto its spot in the playoffs.

The Lions (10-13-4, 34 points) sit seventh in the Eastern Conference table. They host the 12th-place Columbus Crew (8-14-5, 29 points) on Saturday night at Inter.co Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

“As we always analyze the opponent, the previous games,” said Orlando interim head coach Martín Perelman. “Every game is a new chapter. Every game is a new story, different context, different competition. We focus on us. We focus on our team and are ready to compete.”

Orlando has lost three straight in all competitions. The Lions are just one point ahead of Red Bull New York, New York City FC and FC Cincinnati. The top seven teams in each conference advance to the playoffs. The teams in eighth and ninth place face off in a wild card contest to determine the No. 8 seed in the postseason.

Meanwhile, Columbus has won three straight, which includes a 2-1 victory over the Lions on Sept. 16 in a semifinal of the U.S. Open Cup. The Crew also beat Inter Miami 2-1 on a last-minute goal, and they have scored 10 goals in their last five games. Orlando is 11-10-6 all-time against the Crew in all competitions, with eight of those wins coming at home.

Orlando City will be welcoming back a host of players who have been away on international team call-ups and missed the Lions’ 4-2 loss to Philadelphia on Sept. 26. Justin Ellis scored in both of his starts for the U.S. men’s national team, although he was substituted off at halftime in a 1-0 win against Canada on Tuesday. His status for this weekend is still up in the air.

David Brekalo (Slovenia) and Marco Pašalić (Croatia) are back and available, but forward Tyrese Spicer (Trinidad and Tobago) is likely out for the season after having surgery for a foot fracture that he suffered playing for his home country against Haiti on Sept. 24.

“It’s always something really good for us that our players represent us with their national teams in those stages,” Perelman said. “So we are proud. We are proud of the way they compete. Unfortunately, we lost Spicer with the injury. That’s something we never like, but other than that, we’re very happy they represent us very well.”

With only MLS game remaining on the schedule, Orlando city will next play in Toronto on Wednesday.

Orlando City moves

• Dan Lock has been hired as the club academy’s head of methodology and coaching. Lock will lead efforts to strengthen coach development, standardize the academy’s methodology and training processes from the U-12 through U-18 age groups and improve alignment with Orlando City B and the first team. Lock was most recently head of coaching and individual development for the Columbus Crew Academy.

• Orlando City B signed academy forward Matthew Belgodere to a long-term MLS NEXT Pro contract with MLS options. Belgodere made 25 appearances, including 15 starts, for the Lions during the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season. The 16-year-old recorded five goals and two assists.

• Orlando City B signed academy defender Landon Okonski to a long-term MLS NEXT Pro contract with MLS options. Okonski made 20 appearances, including 16 starts, for Orlando City B during the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro campaign. The 18-year-old scored netted his first pro goal Aug. 1 against CT United FC.