Marti Cifuentes has hailed his Portland Timbers players for sticking together all season, as they prepare for their MLS Cup Playoff destiny to be decided against Austin FC.

Portland go to Texas for their final game of the regular season on Saturday, sitting eighth in the Western Conference.

The Timbers could still overtake the LA Galaxy and claim an automatic playoff spot, but there is also a chance they could fall out of the wild-card spots – the Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders, Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United are all within two points of them.

A victory over Austin – who are 14th in the West and eliminated from playoff contention – would ensure Portland make the postseason regardless of results elsewhere.

But whatever happens, Cifuentes is proud of the way his players have taken to his methods since he took charge in July.

"I think there is always a relationship between confidence and getting results. Usually, the way it works is the better you play, the results will come," he said ahead of the game.

"Then when you're winning, the confidence builds. The credit that I want to give to all those guys is that, during this run, when things were not going our way, the team was growing week by week.

"The guys kept working at exactly the same level, with exactly the same belief. They bought into what we wanted to implement. 

"So, it's not just a coach coming here saying, 'We're going to do this', and that's all.

"We've been adjusting certain things during this process, but they are in a good moment now.

"In football and all sports, what you did yesterday is gone. You just have to push on and get the next one."

While Portland registered a crucial 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo last time out, Austin went down 4-1 to the Galaxy in their most recent match, with Zan Kolmanic being sent off late on.

Building momentum  All focus shifts to Decision Day in ATX  https://t.co/oTPGfGYN6l

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) November 3, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Christian Ramirez

Austin have conceded 63 goals this season, their most in a single season in club history. At the other end, they have only netted 42 times, with their joint-leading scorers Ramirez and Murto Uzuni scoring nine apiece.

Ramirez will be particularly keen to finish in double figures, having not done so in MLS since his first season with Minnesota United in 2017.

Portland Timbers – Kristoffer Velde

Portland scored twice in the final half-hour against Houston last time out, with Velde netting after the 60-minute mark for the fourth time this year.

Overall, his 11 goals are the most by any Timbers player this campaign, ahead of Kevin Kelsy on nine.

MATCH PREDICTION – PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

The Portland Timbers have a narrow lead in their all-time series against Austin, with six wins to four (D2).

However, they have only managed one win in the last four encounters between the sides (D1 L2), after going six without losing (W5 D1). 

The Timbers have also not lost in Austin since 2021, though only a victory will assure them of a place in the postseason without relying on favours from elsewhere. 

They should fancy their chances against Austin, who have only won one of their last eight matches (D2 L5).

Despite that run, Austin have not been held scoreless since September 19, against FC Dallas, finding the net in seven straight games – that could mean there is some Decision-Day drama in store.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 35.4%

Portland Timbers – 38.5%

Draw – 26.1%