Atlanta (8-6-7) defeated Charleston on August 1st, but the Battery took down the Silverbacks by a score of 0-2 in Charleston earlier on in the year.

The Battery (10-7-5) are riding high after downing the Seattle Sounders in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals this past Tuesday. Charleston will now face off against D.C. United of the MLS in the championship game.

(Photo Caption: Atlanta Silverbacks defender Brent Sancho will help bolster the Atlanta back line. The Silverbacks have given up 36 goals on the year. Photo by Elaine Carroll.)

Charleston is also positioning itself to receive a top spot in the USL-1 playoffs, as it currently ranks third in the league. The Silverbacks have also fared well recently, winning three games and recording a tie before falling to Vancouver in a heartbreaking loss this past Sunday, when the Whitecaps scored the game-winning goal in the final minutes. Atlanta currently sits in fifth place in the league, but the team has been steadily climbing in the standings.

The Battery are led by goal-scoring threat Randi Patterson, who currently plays with the Trinidad & Tobago national team. Patterson has netted eight goals on the year, ranking him fifth in the league. As well, free kick specialist Lazo Alavanja will return for the Battery to put added pressure on the Silverbacks. Alavanja missed the last meeting between the clubs due to injury.

The Silverback offense will have to again cope with one of the best defenses in the league; Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock has earned a solid 1.052 GAA in 16 games played, and the Battery have given up the second fewest goals in the league (21).

Atlanta will counter with several players who have all had outstanding weeks, helping the 'Backs score goals and climb in the standings. Atlanta’s Jerson Monteiro, Scott Buete, and Macoumba Kandji all made the USL-1 Best 11 for Week 17 of the season. Monteiro has now made the team in back-to-back weeks, while Buete and Kandji have received the honor four and five times this year, respectively.

The Silverbacks will hope to add depth with recent acquisitions Aaron Paye and Brent Sancho, but it is unclear whether or not they will play on Saturday. Atlanta is also hoping to return defensive anchor Matt Bobo, who has missed the past few matches with a nagging injury. Sean Cameron, who was traded to the Silverbacks this past week, will be unavailable due to a jaw injury.

Atlanta will next begin a four-game road swing when they travel to Montreal to face the Impact on Wednesday, August 20th, and close the regular season out by playing seven of eight games on the road.