One of the best rivalries in the USL Championship will kick off Week 26’s action in the league on Wednesday night with the Louisville Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest highlighting a five-game slate of action that also includes a crucial game in the Western Conference playoff race to round out the night.

Here’s a look ahead to all the action.

Indy Eleven vs. Louisville City FC

Venue: Michael A. Carroll Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: IND 16%, LOU 59%, Draw 25%

The Lowdown: Indy Eleven and Louisville City FC will meet for the 17th time across the USL Championship’s regular season and playoffs with the season series in the LIPAFC up for grabs and LouCity aiming to both clinch its postseason berth for an eighth consecutive campaign and remain on track to end the regular season with the best record in the Championship. Indy earned a 1-1 draw when it visited Lynn Family Stadium in March as Stefano Pinho opened the scoring before Sean Totsch answered for Louisville in the second half, and the Boys in Blue are coming off a morale-boosting 1-0 win against San Antonio FC last Saturday that broke a 12-game winless streak for the side. Robbie Dambrot’s first goal since signing earlier this month provided the winner as goalkeeper Tim Trilk notched a six-save shutout in a result that helped LouCity in its pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the postseason. The visitors need just a point to book their playoff place but will be aiming for all three points to remain ahead of San Antonio in the race for the best record in the league as they try to rebound from a 1-0 defeat against Miami FC this past Saturday. LouCity has lost consecutive games only once previously this season but fell in their most recent visit to Michael A. Carroll Stadium last October when Manuel Arteaga scored a late winner that earned Indy the LIPAFC series for the first time since joining the Championship in 2018.

Spotlight Players
Indy Eleven – Bryam Rebellon: The central midfielder has been a solid contributor when available this season and will need to put in a good display to try and restrict Louisville’s creative players from finding space as they move upfield.

Louisville City FC – Wilson Harris: The center forward could make his return from suspension against Indy and will look to try and provide the cutting edge that wasn’t quite there for the side in its loss to Miami.

New York Red Bulls II vs. Hartford Athletic

Venue: MSU Soccer Park
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: NY 33%, HFD 40%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: Hartford Athletic will try to build on victory last time out as it heads to face the New York Red Bulls II, who return home after a defeat on the weekend the came after their official elimination from playoff contention. The Red Bulls II fell 3-1 to Birmingham Legion FC on Sunday evening at Protective Stadium despite taking a first-half lead through Jordan Adebayo-Smith’s fifth goal of the season. New York was unable to hold on against a strong Legion FC rally, however, and are now 2-2-2 after scoring the opening goal in a game this season. Hartford, meanwhile, earned a 2-1 victory last Wednesday night as a late winner by Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. lifted the side past playoff contender FC Tulsa in the first game since the official appointment of Tab Ramos as the club’s Head Coach. Wednesday will mark the final game of interim Head Coach Ray Reid’s tenure with Ramos slated to take the helm officially on September 1, but the visitors will be hoping to emulate their 3-2 victory against the Red Bulls II earlier this season which saw Corey Hertzog score in second-half stoppage time to lift the side to victory at Trinity Health Stadium.

Player Spotlight
New York Red Bulls II – Jordan Adebayo-Smith: The English forward made his 50th regular season appearance in the Championship on Sunday evening and has been a bright spot in a challenging year for his side.

Hartford Athletic – Joel Johnson: The Liberian international scored when the sides first met this season and currently sits with a team-high four goals in the campaign.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. Charleston Battery

Venue: Highmark Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: PIT 65%, CHS 14% Draw 21%

The Lowdown: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC returns home aiming to build on victory last time out as it plays host to longtime rival the Charleston Battery, whose playoff hopes came to an end over the weekend. The Hounds remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference at the end of the weekend after a 2-1 victory against Atlanta United 2 that saw Albert Dikwa scored both goals for the side at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Already in the middle of a career season, Dikwa is now one goal away from 10 for the campaign, sitting second on the team behind Russell Cicerone, who has notched 11 tallies so far. Pittsburgh will be looking to avoid a repeat of its last meeting with the Battery, however, after Charleston took a 3-0 victory when the teams met at Patriots Point earlier this season behind a goal and assist from Romario Piggott and finishes from Augustine Williams and Andrew Booth. The Battery saw its playoff chances for this season come to an end on Saturday as its 3-0 defeat to Detroit City FC moved Le Rouge out of range for a potential comeback, but the Battery have had a solid overall record against the Hounds in the Championship era, going 9-5-9 since the start of the 2011 season, and will be looking to retain the upper hand in their series.

Spotlight Players
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Dane Kelly: The Jamaican forward, who started his Championship career with the Battery, could make his 250th regular season appearance on Wednesday night to add to his storied career in the league.

Charleston Battery – Robbie Crawford: The central midfielder will need to put in a strong performance against the Hounds and their strong midfield contingent led by Kenardo Forbes and Robbie Mertz if the Battery are to earn a result on the road.

Memphis 901 FC vs. Loudoun United FC

Venue: AutoZone Park
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: MEM 67%, LDN 13%, Draw 20%

The Lowdown: Memphis 901 FC will aim to move closer to securing a second consecutive postseason berth and solidify its current position of second place in the Eastern Conference as it returns to action against Loudoun United FC to start a two-game week. Memphis can move within a result of clinching its playoff berth with a win against Loudoun as it looks to rebound from a 4-2 defeat to rival Birmingham Legion FC on August 20 in its most recent outing. Luiz Fernando scored his third goal in the past three games for the hosts at AutoZone Park, but Memphis conceded four goals for the first time this season as Legion FC earned victory. The hosts claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory when they visited Loudoun earlier this season, however, and will be hoping for a similar performance with United arriving after a 2-1 loss to FC Tulsa on Saturday night on the first stop of their road trip. Kristian Fletcher scored a standout goal for Loudoun at ONEOK Field for his fourth of the season, but United was unable to hold on to its lead as it continued to slip further toward mathematical elimination from playoff contention.

Spotlight Players
Memphis 901 FC – Phillip Goodrum: Memphis’ leading scorer notched a goal and assist when these teams last squared off on and will be looking to add to his 14 goals so far this season.

Loudoun United FC – Kristian Fletcher: The United States U-19 international has produced some individual moments of brilliance this campaign and will be a player Memphis must account for in its defensive half.

Phoenix Rising FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

Venue: Wild Horse Pass
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: PHX 35%, RGV 38%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: Phoenix Rising FC and Rio Grande Valley FC meet in a Western Conference six-pointer at Wild Horse Pass with both clubs in need of gaining ground on the playoff positions with nine games to go in their respective regular season campaigns. Rising FC returns home after falling 3-1 against El Paso Locomotive FC in new Head Coach Juan Guerra’s first game at the helm as Ryan Flood’s first goal for the club proved just a consolation after El Paso had pulled away to a three-goal lead. Rising FC is winless in its last three outings overall and sits eight points out of the playoff places, one point behind the Toros, who arrive in Phoenix after a 5-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC that saw the side find its scoring touch and equal its second-largest scoring output in a game in club history. Jonas Fjeldberg scored twice and former United States international Jose Francisco Torres had a pair of assists against the 10-player Lights FC to give the Toros their first win after three consecutive drawn contests prior. Wednesday’s game will be the first between the sides since RGVFC upset Phoenix in last year’s Western Conference Quarterfinals of the USL Championship Playoffs, advancing in a penalty shootout after the sides played to a thrilling 3-3 draw through regulation and extra time. For both sides, the stakes are as high this time with a victory for either side set to boost their playoff chances, and a defeat potential fatal.

Spotlight Players
Phoenix Rising FC – Aodhan Quinn: The midfield playmaker has recorded five goals and five assists this season but has been held off the scoresheet in Phoenix’s three-game winless run, something he’ll be eager to change.

Rio Grande Valley FC – Jose Francisco Torres: The former United States international put in a masterful display against Las Vegas and will need to be equally as good against Rising FC for the visitors to take a much-needed victory.