• San Antonio (11 wins, 7 draws, 9 losses) currently sits in 8^th spot in the USL Western Conference, 6 places and 13 points behind Rising in 2^nd.
• The two sides last met two-and-a-half weeks ago in Arizona. Rising coasted to a 3-0 lead by half-time, with Billy Forbes adding a fourth in the 64^th minute despite Doueugui Mala being shown a second yellow card a few minutes earlier.
• Since that game, San Antonio has lost 2-1 at home to Swope, but picked up a full 6 points on the road with a 3-1 win in the “South Texas derby” at RGV, followed by an impressive 2-1 win over conference leaders Real Monarchs in Utah.
• Their last 3 results are all the more surprising as San Antonio this season is a far more formidable opponent at Toyota Field than on the road, winning 7 of its 13 home games to date.
• Rising’s away record is identical to San Antonio’s home record – 7 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses. However, Phoenix has scored 3 more goals on their travels than San Antonio have scored at home.

• Ever Guzmán has recently claimed the crown of San Antonio top scorer ahead of Owayne Omar Gordon. Since playing Rising, he’s managed to score twice – one to seal a 3-1 victory over Rio Grande Valley, the other to open the scoring against Real Monarchs.
• Another player in fine goalscoring form for the hosts is Lance Laing. The FC Cincinnati winger joined San Antonio on loan the day after their loss in the Valley,  and has hit the ground running with a tally of 2 goals in 3 games. Laing has previously featured for Jamaica, including in their 2015 Gold Cup run and Copa America side.
• San Antonio’s goals these past three games have come from various locations, including three strikes from outside of the penalty area. Defensively, they’ve been vulnerable to shots and headers from close range.

• Guatemalan international defender Moises Hernandez joins Laing as one of two new members of the San Antonio roster since their August 22 game against Rising.  The 26-year-old defender, contracted to FC Dallas, joined on loan on Thursday, and will provide top-flight experience at the back.
• The good news for Rising is that San Antonio will be without one of their better goalscorers: Owayne Omar Gordon. He’s been called up by Jamaica for their two matches this weekend, and yesterday featured alongside Rising’s Kevon Lambert in their 2-0 defeat to Ecuador.

• San Antonio seem to be most dangerous in front of goal between the 46^th and 75^th minutes.
• After conceding 4 goals in Phoenix, the USL 2017 Goalkeeper of the Year Diego Restrepo hasn’t featured for San Antonio. For the past 2 matches, he hasn’t even earned a place on the bench.
• Restrepo has lost his spot to 25-year-old Matt Cardone. At the start of the last 3 games, Cardone had a save success rate of 78.6%.  That’s now fallen to 70.8%, despite the two victories.

• Three San Antonio players will be suspended if they pick up a yellow card against Rising tonight. Defender Darnell King (10 yellows), forward César Elizondo (4 yellows) and defender Cyprian Hendrick (4 yellows) will all have to be careful, if they want to retain their places in the race for the playoffs.

From the Ashes Prediction: Rising to come away with a point after a tough battle in Texas.