Unless it can pull off a miracle, Toronto FC will fail to qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs for a fifth consecutive year.

All is not lost for the Reds, though. Toronto will continue in its quest to qualify for the knockout round of the CONCACAF Champions League when it hosts fellow MLS side FC Dallas Wednesday night.

TFC won its opening group stage match when it earned a 2-1 decision on the road last week against Tauro FC of Panama. With three points, Toronto currently sits in a tie for first place in Group A with Dallas, who beat Mexican club Pumas.

The top two teams from each of the four round-robin groups advance to the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF club competition, which features the best clubs from across North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Toronto faces a daunting trip to Mexico in its next match against Pumas, so a much-needed victory Wednesday would put Toronto in firm control of Group C with four games left to play.

The Champions League offers TFC a chance to salvage what has turned out to be a disappointing 2011. This past weekend, the Reds suffered a humiliating 2-0 loss to the Chicago Fire, one of the worst teams in MLS, to drop to last place in the Eastern Conference.

"It was a pretty unfortunate result. Going on the road, it's very rare for us to have so many [scoring] chances. … That was the big problem [in Chicago]: finishing," midfielder Julian de Guzman told reporters. "I think that's always been the problem for us on the road: getting the result we and scoring the goals we need."

With the debacle in the Windy City all but ending TFC's faint playoff hopes, de Guzman and his teammates are now firmly focused on the Champions League and making a lengthy run in the CONCACAF competition.

"It's probably one of the goals we set before the season even started — to be on the international stage and to do well," said de Guzman.

"Last year we made history by making the group stage. This year our goal is to make history by coming out of the group. The possibilities are very high with the result we got on the road in Panama, and now that we're home against Dallas, I think the guys are very motivated and determined to get the three points."

Even though Toronto has not enjoyed success against Dallas this season — they won both MLS matches between the clubs — de Guzman feels the Reds can take inspiration from the 2010 Champions League when it upset Mexico's Cruz Azul.

"We did it last year against Cruz Azul, one of the best teams in CONCACAF, and I think there's a good chance of [beating] Dallas, one of the best teams in MLS," the Canadian asserted.

Encouraging news for TFC fans came Tuesday when coach Aron Winter confirmed Dutch forward Danny Koevermans, Canadian midfielder Terry Dunfield and French midfielder Leandre Griffit have overcome injury problems and will be available for selection after missing.

Also returning for the Reds will be German captain Torsten Frings, who sat out last week's game in Panama due to suspension.