COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – As a native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is a familiar place for OKC Energy FC goalkeeper Jacob Lissek.

“Every Saturday you’ve got lots of tournaments out here, and at the end of the day everyone comes in and tailgates and goes and watches the big boys play,” Lissek said on Monday. “It’s definitely cool to be part of that now.”

Lissek and his Energy FC teammates will take on the challenge of squaring off with the Colorado Rapids in the Fourth Round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with the club aiming to earn its first win in the competition against MLS opposition after falling in each of the past two years to FC Dallas.

The club’s Third Round victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC set up Tuesday night’s contest, one of three on the night that opens a fascinating couple of days as nine USL clubs overall get to face MLS opposition as the top-flight teams join the 104th edition of the tournament.

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While Lissek competed at DSG Park as a youth player, Energy FC’s Anthony Wallace returns to the venue with his memories of playing for the Rapids themselves. Part of the club’s 2010 MLS Cup-winning squad, Wallace saw memories come back to him quickly as OKC got acclimatized to conditions in Monday’s training session.

“We’re going to have to pace ourselves,” Wallace said. “I forgot how big the pitch was until I saw it again today, and it’s massive. As long as we pace ourselves throughout the game and we’re hard to play against, we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”

The space both sides will have to work with, along with the high altitude, are both factors that will make the Rapids a big test for Energy FC. The Rapids have lost only once to USL opposition in the Open Cup since 2011, and that came on the road against Orlando City SC in the Third Round in 2013.

“It’s a great challenge for the team, for the club to go up against one of the better teams in the country,” said Energy FC Head Coach Jimmy Nielsen. “It’s going to be a fun challenge, the pressure’s going to be on Colorado. I think we come here with confidence and a belief. … We have a plan for tomorrow as to how we want to approach the game, and hopefully we can make a very competitive and fun game out of it.”

Win or lose, the game will provide Lissek and his with another great memory to take away.

“I grew up going to the games, even when they were playing at Invesco,” said Lissek. “To see my family and friends in the stands [on Tuesday], it’ll be awesome.”