This weekend in the USL Championship the top teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences square off in a must-see clash, the network television spotlight heads to the Motor City for a key game in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and we kick things off with a top-four clash between two teams in need of a reaction after last weekend.

Here are three top storylines to know going in, three players to keep an eye on, and what else you need to know before tuning in on CBS, ESPN2, CBS Sports Golazo Network and ESPN+.

1. SITTING UP TOP

For publicity reasons, you’ll see certain interconference games pitched as “a potential USL Championship Final preview” as the road to the playoffs comes into focus.

When New Mexico United hosts Louisville City FC on Saturday night, though, it’s one of the rare opportunities we get to see the two teams on top of their respective conferences square off this late in a regular season.

• READY TO REBOUND: New Mexico comes in after suffering its first home loss of the season on Wednesday night to Las Vegas Lights FC, and vowing to put what it believed was a sub-par performance behind them. “We've had losses [this season] and we say to ourselves, ‘We can lose a game. We don’t lose two, especially here at home’,” said forward Daniel Bruce.

• WESTWARD BOUND: Louisville is in the middle of a run of games against Western Conference opponents and is 4-1-1 against the opposing conference after defeating Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Monterey Bay F.C. the past two weekends. With a win this weekend, LouCity would put a serious dent in New Mexico’s potential challenge for the Players’ Shield.

• TURN THE TABLES: New Mexico took a 2-0 victory when it welcomed LouCity to Isotopes Park last season, part of a 10-game home winning streak that stretched well into this campaign. The visitors will be aiming to get a little revenge for that loss this time around.

We’re three months away from the end of the regular season, and who knows what the postseason might bring, but this is a game that should have your attention this weekend.

2. MOTOR CITY, HERE WE COME

The third and final regular season game to air on the CBS Television Network this regular season arrives on Saturday evening as Detroit City FC plays host to Rhode Island FC at iconic Keyworth Stadium.

In terms of pregame narrative, it doesn’t get much more intriguing.

• ROUGE RESET: Detroit City FC made a superb start to the season, winning five in a row, but as of late they’ve faltered. Wednesday night’s 1-0 loss to Hartford Athletic stretched the side’s winless run to five games, leaving it in sixth position in the East.

• RHODEY’S RISE: Rhode Island FC, on the other hand, is making its move into contention. After its slow start to the campaign, RIFC is undefeated in its last seven games and has won three in a row after defeating North Carolina FC last Saturday.

• PUSHING AHEAD: Those paths have put DCFC and RIFC level on points in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race as the final three months of the season arrive. If a winner emerges on Saturday, the side that does would get a major leg up for a potential top-four finish.

There’s a ton of reason to be excited for Saturday’s nationally televised broadcast, not least the atmosphere led by the Northern Guard that has made Keyworth Stadium special over almost a decade as Le Rouge’s home.

But the stakes for the game, the talent that’s going to be on show, and the entertainment we could get as a result should make for a tremendous spectacle.

3. BATTERY, INDY FACE CHALLENGES

The weekend kicks off on Friday night with a top-four clash in the Championship’s Eastern Conference as the second-placed Charleston Battery host fourth-placed Indy Eleven at Patriots Point.

It’s a key game for both clubs, especially given their most recent outings.

• TAKING A HIT: The Battery were flying last weekend against the Tampa Bay Rowdies before a series of events saw it all fall apart in a 4-2 defeat. The most significant long-term? An injury to midfielder Aaron Molloy that saw the Battery summon reinforcements in the form of on-loan midfielder Jay Chapman on Thursday.

• MISSING MAGIC: For Indy, there’s been a longer malaise. The Boys in Blue have reached the Semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup for the first time in their history, but their victory against Atlanta United FC was the only game the side won in July. They’re currently on a five-game winless run in the league, and need to defend their position.

• REMEMBER ME? Notable for Friday night’s game is the potential return to Patriots Point of Indy forward Augustine Williams, who starred for the Battery over the past two seasons before moving north. The presence of the Sierra Leone international and the Battery’s current Championship Golden Boot leader Nick Markanich on the same field should be entertaining.

All things considered the Battery are in a stronger position in the standings than Indy going into this contest. They also have a 4-2 win at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in their back pocket for confidence.

With playoff pressure rising, though, it will be interesting to see how both clubs perform.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Phillip Goodrum, FC Tulsa – Goodrum leads Tulsa with four goals this season, but with the side struggling for finishing needs to start producing. Going up against San Antonio FC it would be a great time to deliver with the side’s defense in good form.

Ronaldo Damus, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – The Haitian international was just off with his timing against Las Vegas last weekend. He’ll need to find that against a good Phoenix back line to get the Switchbacks back into the win column.

Alex Lara, Monterey Bay F.C. – With Monterey Bay in transition following the departure of Frank Yallop and a potent Tampa Bay Rowdies attack coming to town, Alex Lara may need to produce a great performance to help the hosts earn a result.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

#BHMvHFD: We might not get Anderson Asiedu’s return to Protective Stadium with Hartford Athletic, but this is a big opportunity for the visitors to build on a midweek win. Birmingham Legion FC’s got the top four within its sights as well.

#LDNvMIA: Loudoun United FC doesn’t need a get-better game despite its last two results, but earning all three points at home to last-place Miami FC is important. Can’t be dropping points when everyone else is winning.

#MEMvELP: Are we going to see Panos Armenakas’ debut for Memphis 901 FC on Saturday? Given the injury situation the side has, potentially, and this is a game the hosts need to win against struggling El Paso Locomotive FC.

#COSvPHX: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC hasn’t won in its last three games, and as tight as things are in the Western Conference it’s important that change. The big question is which version of Phoenix Rising FC shows up for this one?

#SAvTUL: If you had FC Tulsa being ahead of San Antonio FC at this point of the season, please claim your winnings. This is a huge game for both teams as they try to gain ground on the playoff positions, and Tulsa’s defense is currently the more watertight.

#MBvTBR: The Tampa Bay Rowdies rank second in the Championship with 124 shots on target this season. Monterey Bay F.C. ranks 22nd in the league with 115 shots on target faced. See where we’re going with this one?

#OCvNC: Orange County SC has been outstanding at home, poor on the road in the last five outings. The hosts need that trend to continue against a solid North Carolina FC side that needs a victory, badly.

#SACvPIT: The first-place finishers in their respective conference a season ago, Sacramento Republic FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC are both finding some form of late. Republic FC’s in comfortable position already, though, while the Hounds really need to take something home with them sitting below the playoff line.