ShareNew York City FC are hoping to end their winless streak and continue their playoff push against Orlando City SC, who are in fine form.New York City FC midfielder James Sands says the club are well aware of what is at stake in the playoff race as they travel to Orlando City SC in need of an MLS win.NYCFC have failed to win any of their last five league games, meaning they have slipped down to 12th in the Eastern Conference.They snapped a two-game losing streak to draw 1-1 with Los Angeles FC last time out, but they remain two points behind their rivals New York Red Bulls, who occupy the last wildcard spot, with four games left to play.It is the worst time of the season to hit a downslide in form, and Sands believes his team-mates are well-equipped to deal with the pressure of the playoff race."Everybody at this point is a professional," he said. "Everybody's dealt with their highs and their lows."I don't think guys on this team need their hands held in these tough moments. Everybody's a grown-up; everybody knows what needs to be done. When things are not going our way, nobody sugarcoats it."So, I think it's just about being professional, trying to manage the games a little bit better than we have."I don't think we're so far off from getting the results we need, but obviously, we do need to take a couple of steps forward now."Orlando, by contrast, are seven points better off, sitting in the final automatic playoff spot in seventh.They are unbeaten in their last three MLS matches (W2 D1) and come into this match with a confidence-boosting 4-1 win over D.C. United last time out."I think they are giving everything on the field, and [D.C.] was a tough game," interim head coach Martin Perelman said."We had to battle, to fight and to play when we could. Fortunately, we won, which is very important at home."But now, it's time to prepare for the next one, which will be very important, like every game."PLAYERS TO WATCHOrlando City SC – Martin OjedaMartin Ojeda tallied his 15th goal of the season in the win over D.C., netting a sublime scorpion kick, marking his second consecutive season with at least 15 goals for Orlando.Only one other player in Orlando's history has even one MLS season with 15+ goals (Cyle Larin – 17 in 2015).New York City FC – Nicolas Fernandez MercauNicolas Fernandez Mercau delivered an assist on Saturday for his ninth of 2026, with only team-mate Agustin Ojeda having more this season (11).With another Fernandez Mercau assist, the pair would join Santiago Rodriguez and Talles Magno in 2022 as the only pair in team history with 10+ assists in the same regular season.MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY SCNYCFC's 5-0 win over Orlando in March was their second five-goal win in the regular-season series (also doing so in July 2021).NYCFC has recorded five-goal wins in MLS play against D.C. United, FC Cincinnati and Real Salt Lake, but Orlando is the only opponent they have beaten twice by that margin.However, they have registered 10 draws in MLS this season after their 1-1 draw with LAFC last weekend. It is their 23rd stalemate since the start of 2023, two more than San Jose Earthquakes' 21 in that same time.Orlando are expected to make their home advantage count on Saturday. Their 4-1 win over D.C. marked their 10th league game this season with at least three goals scored.Orlando's 32 regular-season games with at least three goals since the start of the 2024 season are tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps for second most, trailing only Inter Miami’s 41 matches.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYOrlando City SC – 46.6%Draw – 26.5%New York City FC – 26.9%New York City FC are hoping to end their winless streak and continue their playoff push against Orlando City SC, who are in fine form.New York City FC midfielder James Sands says the club are well aware of what is at stake in the playoff race as they travel to Orlando City SC in need of an MLS win.NYCFC have failed to win any of their last five league games, meaning they have slipped down to 12th in the Eastern Conference.They snapped a two-game losing streak to draw 1-1 with Los Angeles FC last time out, but they remain two points behind their rivals New York Red Bulls, who occupy the last wildcard spot, with four games left to play.It is the worst time of the season to hit a downslide in form, and Sands believes his team-mates are well-equipped to deal with the pressure of the playoff race."Everybody at this point is a professional," he said. "Everybody's dealt with their highs and their lows."I don't think guys on this team need their hands held in these tough moments. Everybody's a grown-up; everybody knows what needs to be done. When things are not going our way, nobody sugarcoats it."So, I think it's just about being professional, trying to manage the games a little bit better than we have."I don't think we're so far off from getting the results we need, but obviously, we do need to take a couple of steps forward now."Orlando, by contrast, are seven points better off, sitting in the final automatic playoff spot in seventh.They are unbeaten in their last three MLS matches (W2 D1) and come into this match with a confidence-boosting 4-1 win over D.C. United last time out."I think they are giving everything on the field, and [D.C.] was a tough game," interim head coach Martin Perelman said."We had to battle, to fight and to play when we could. Fortunately, we won, which is very important at home."But now, it's time to prepare for the next one, which will be very important, like every game."PLAYERS TO WATCHOrlando City SC – Martin OjedaMartin Ojeda tallied his 15th goal of the season in the win over D.C., netting a sublime scorpion kick, marking his second consecutive season with at least 15 goals for Orlando.Only one other player in Orlando's history has even one MLS season with 15+ goals (Cyle Larin – 17 in 2015).New York City FC – Nicolas Fernandez MercauNicolas Fernandez Mercau delivered an assist on Saturday for his ninth of 2026, with only team-mate Agustin Ojeda having more this season (11).With another Fernandez Mercau assist, the pair would join Santiago Rodriguez and Talles Magno in 2022 as the only pair in team history with 10+ assists in the same regular season.MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY SCNYCFC's 5-0 win over Orlando in March was their second five-goal win in the regular-season series (also doing so in July 2021).NYCFC has recorded five-goal wins in MLS play against D.C. United, FC Cincinnati and Real Salt Lake, but Orlando is the only opponent they have beaten twice by that margin.However, they have registered 10 draws in MLS this season after their 1-1 draw with LAFC last weekend. It is their 23rd stalemate since the start of 2023, two more than San Jose Earthquakes' 21 in that same time.Orlando are expected to make their home advantage count on Saturday. Their 4-1 win over D.C. marked their 10th league game this season with at least three goals scored.Orlando's 32 regular-season games with at least three goals since the start of the 2024 season are tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps for second most, trailing only Inter Miami’s 41 matches.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYOrlando City SC – 46.6%Draw – 26.5%New York City FC – 26.9%