A busy week for Toronto FC concludes in Florida on Saturday, when the Reds visit Nu Stadium for the first time to play reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami.

TFC came from behind to draw 3-3 with Charlotte FC on Wednesday night to make it three games in a row without losing, after beating the New England Revolution on Saturday for their first win since April. As the weekend rolls around again they are looking to make a major statement against another of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.

Markus Cimermancic, who could be in line to start a third match in a row if Jonathan Osorio is still out with a knee injury, admitted to reporters that he is looking for some redemption after not having the best game when Miami beat Toronto FC 4-2 in Toronto in May.

A win, plus some help from elsewhere in the league, could have TFC in a playoff spot by the end of the night, or at least a lot closer. TFC’s 21 points from 20 matches leaves them three back of D.C. United with 14 games left to play.

“Against Miami, you always get some chances,” said midfielder Markus Cimermancic. “Yes, you have to defend the greatest player in my opinion, but if we score our chances and obviously limit their chances, I feel like we have a good chance of winning.”

Djordje Mihailovic will be back for TFC after serving his one-game suspension for a red card picked up on Saturday, but the Reds lost Walker Zimmerman to that same fate on Wednesday. The status of Niklas Dorsch — who has scored long-distance goals in back-to-back games — remains to be seen as well, with the German midfielder confirming that he has a facial fracture after taking an elbow to the head on Wednesday.

Robin Fraser made his feelings on refereeing crystal clear on Wednesday night after several match-defining incidents recently, and is now tasked with navigating how to line up against one of MLS’ top clubs.

Related Reading: Toronto FC’s Robin Fraser sounds off on ‘ridiculous’ refereeing after Dorsch injury, Zimmerman red card

Miami are coming into this game in poor form, drawing 2-2 midweek against Philadelphia after getting smashed 4-1 by Nashville SC on Saturday. Before that they lost two games in a row in Leagues Cup action, 2-1 to Monterrey and 3-2 to Club León.

Goalkeeping has been a talking point in Miami, with Canadian Dayne St. Clair getting benched coming out of the World Cup break and his replacement Rocco Ríos Novo hardly inspiring confidence. St. Clair was back in net midweek and made four saves, and will be hoping to backstop his team to a much-needed win against his hometown club TFC.

Even when they aren’t in great form, the prospect of playing Miami is a difficult one. Any team that can call upon Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Casemiro and Rodrigo De Paul has a luxury that no other MLS team can afford.

Messi is back in the mix, and scored midweek, after taking a brief leave from the team to deal with the passing of his father Jorge. He admitted he doesn’t know how much longer he wants to play, but has returned like he never missed a beat.

Courtesy: Sean Pollock/Waking The Red

“It’s never easy to play Miami, home or away,” Daniel Salloi said to reporters including Waking The Red on Wednesday night. “It’s going to be exciting, though. You play in a new stadium, you should always feel good going into these games.

“The stadium’s gonna be full again, stars on the other team, these are the reasons we all wanted to be soccer players, to have these moments. It’s gonna be very difficult to get a result but the season’s getting to a point where you have to make up for points that you lost, and this could be one of those games. We’re gonna do our absolute best to bring back points.”

More to come.

Related Reading: Markus Cimermancic has ‘dream come true’ with 1st Toronto FC goal, continues to impress in TFC midfield