MONTREAL

Toronto FC is playing for far more than playoff positioning Sunday evening. It’s playing for relevancy.

We’ve seen what a deep playoff run can do for a team. The Blue Jays were posting record-low attendance figures just five seasons ago.

Then their captivating run to the American League Championship Series saw them garner more interest than the federal election.

Not that the Reds — in existence for less than a decade — will reach those heights anytime soon. But TFC is desperate to host — and win — playoff games in the coming weeks.

It’s why Sunday’s “Decision Day” matchup at Saputo Stadium is about more than a rivalry. It’s Toronto FC’s chance to be mainstream, to be the rebound in a city still mourning the Jays.

The minor achievement of finally making Major League Soccer’s playoffs could be a distant memory if the Reds fail to pick up a point Sunday night.

That would force Toronto to open these playoffs on the road on Wednesday or Thursday, where a loss would prevent BMO Field from getting its first sniff of post-season play.

“We become a little more of the primary story,” TFC head coach Greg Vanney told the Toronto Sun at the team’s downtown Montreal hotel Saturday night. “I was rooting for the Jays and really disappointed in the end.

“Now we become a little bit more of the front story, which is an opportunity for us to try to take hold of that and make something of it.”

The Montreal Impact are in a similar situation after flatlining prior to Didier Drogba’s summer arrival.

Now they’re the talk of the town, with Sunday night’s match selling out weeks in advance.

Like Toronto, the hosts are in need of a result to guarantee they won’t be on the road come the playoffs.

“For us, priority No. 1 is to come here and get a win,” Vanney said. “If we get in those final minutes and it happens to be even then we’re not going to get overly crazy about trying to get a win.”

The multitude of scenarios heading into the weekend have been discussed for days on end.

Toronto could finish as high as second in the East with a win and a draw between Columbus and D.C. United. That would see the Reds skip the first round completely before opening a two-leg conference semifinal on the road next Sunday.

A win or a draw would see Toronto host a first-round match regardless of other Eastern Conference results.

“The two things we’re looking at is home field with a bye and if a couple of results go our way we can finish as high as third (overall),” Vanney said.

“If our ambitions are to be a champion then you want to position yourself to get that home final.”

The league’s championship match is played at the home of the remaining Eastern or Western Conference club with the most regular-season points.

“I have no intention to track (other scores on Decision Day),” Vanney added. “Our focus will be on getting three points.”

The Impact, meanwhile, would like nothing more than to spoil TFC’s first trip to the post-season — especially in front of 500 traveling TFC supporters who will fill an entire section at Saputo.

“I truly think it will feel like a real derby,” Vanney said. “The standings are in action here.

“For me, it’s the first time that this rivalry has post-season purpose to it and more at stake.

“The electricity in the building and on the field will be ratcheted up a little bit.”

That’s underselling it. Two of the most electric strikers the league has ever seen will be on full display Sunday evening.

Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco was stopped by randoms at the airport and team hotel to pose for photos on Saturday. In just a few months, Didier Drogba is already a Montreal legend.

Sunday’s contest could come down to which side’s defending does a better job shutting down the big name opposite them.

The Reds need to make someone other the Drogba beat them while being wary of the high-pressure defending the Impact will undoubtedly play with as they hunt better playoff positioning.

“You see how difficult it is in this league to win on the road,” Impact interim coach Mauro Biello told reporters.

“To have the possibility of having that first playoff game at home is big for us. It’s a big rivalry against Toronto and for us to finish the season on a good note will help us out.”

You can’t help but feel like someone’s season is going to end before the final whistle blows on Sunday.

Teams that begin these playoffs on the road have just a .250 winning percentage.

The Jays are a perfect example of how crucial home-field advantage is in the post-season.

Now the Reds are hoping to pick up where Toronto’s beloved baseball team left off this weekend.

GREG VANNEY LOOKS BACK OVER THE REGULAR SEASON

1) FAVOURITE GOAL THIS SEASON

“The last one for Seba. When he got off the plane and came back and scored. It was just a goal that helped us exhale. We knew we’d be in the playoffs.”

2) FAVOURITE MOMENT THIS SEASON

“It’s something nobody experienced with us. We were on the road in Vancouver. Sebastian didn’t bring any clothes for the road because he’s used to Italy where they don’t go out. We had dinner outside of the hotel. He was in all of his sweats while everyone else was dressed in normal gear. We showed up to the next dinner and Benoit and Damien had gone shopping at one of the stores and bought him an entire outfit. It was a very funny moment. He ended up trying it on in the middle of the dinner. It was a really good moment for the team ... Seba was a great sport about it all.”

3) THE MOST UNHERALDED RESULT

“Very early in the year when we’d lost four in a row ... we came out and just competed (and won 2-0) in Orlando.”

4) THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE SEASON

“When we secured that playoff spot, the fourth win in a row. We positioned ourselves in the playoffs. There were a lot of positives in that moment.”

5) THE LOWEST POINT OF THE SEASON

“Going back to the losing streak at the beginning of the year. We had a talented side and we knew starting on the road would be difficult. But the way we took care of Vancouver we expected some results would come.”

WHAT’S THAT?! GIOVINCO ISN’T THIS YEAR’S MVP?!

MONTREAL — You’d have to search long and hard to find a prominent MLS pundit who doesn’t believe Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco is undoubtedly this year’s Most Valuable Player.

We found him.

Despite watching the Atomic Ant likely win this year’s Golden Boot. Despite watching him produce the best statistical season by an attacking player in the league’s 20-year history.

Fox Sports’ Alexi Lalas — a former MLSer and World Cup veteran himself — sees things through his own lens.

As a result, he’s making an argument in favour of Columbus Crew striker Kei Kamara winning MVP in 2015.

“I have my four different criteria,” Lalas told the Toronto Sun by phone on Saturday, a day ahead of Toronto’s final match of the season in Montreal. “It’s all about the goal-scorers. There’s nothing more valuable in soccer than scoring goals.

“No. 2: It’s not about how many goals you score, but the amount of games you score in. It does me no good to have a guy score a bunch of goals and then doesn’t score in a bunch of games.”

For the record, Kamara has scored in one more game (16 total) than Giovinco this season.

“Three: I don’t count penalties,” Lalas continued. “It’s an art and certainly a skill, but it’s separate. From a statistical standpoint, I think (PKs) should have its own column.”

Again, Kamara beats Giovinco, who has converted three penalties to Crew striker’s zero.

“If you’re an MVP, you should at least have the ability to carry your team to the playoffs.”

It’s a fair assessment amid the love affair with Giovinco’s standout campaign.

Kamara has scored in more games. He hasn’t converted a penalty in the process of collecting 22 goals — tied with Giovinco for the league lead.

Because of that, Lalas knows who he’s voting for.

“It’s a mathematical equation. It’s Kei Kamara,” Lalas explained. “Even if you don’t take off the penalties, he has scored in more games and has more goals in the run of play.”

Still, scores of experts have tipped Giovinco for the award. The fact the Italian has chipped in a league-leading 15 assists this season helps his cause.

Giovinco also leads Kamara in non-statistical categories, which has swayed voters.

“Because of the way that he has scored and because of his resume,” Lalas offered.

“Everyone has their own criteria. That’s what makes it interesting,” Lalas added. “In terms of value to his or her team, when you look at someone like Drogba and what he has meant in terms of the goals scored and the interest and the relevancy of (the Montreal Impact) and the amount of wins they’ve gotten. You can make a case.”

There’s one more name Lalas threw out based on his criteria: Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins (assuming the Sounders make the post-season).

“There’s a reason why you pay money for goal-scorers,” Lalas said. “You can’t win a game without scoring.”

Why we even care about such a designation is an entirely different conversation.

“We are in a constant search to be able to decide what greatness is,” Lalas finished. “We all have our own criteria and mechanisms and calculations as to what that is.

“We want to find ways to say why something is better than something else.”

LARSON VS. LALAS

How our soccer guy ranks this year’s MVP candidates heading into the final week of the MLS season

LARSON’S RANKINGS

1. Sebastian Giovinco (TFC) — 22 goals, 15 assists, 32 appearances

*Larson says: MLS has never seen a player like this, or a season like this when assists are factored in. It’s a no-brainer.

2. Kei Kamara (CLB) — 22 goals, 8 assists, 32 appearances

3. Didier Drogba (MTL) — 9 goals, 1 assist, 10 appearances

LALAS’ RANKINGS

1. Kei Kamara (CLB) — 22 goals, 8 assists, 32 appearances

2. Sebastian Giovinco (TFC) — 22 goals, 15 assists, 32 appearances

3. Obafemi Martins (SEA) — 15 goals, 5 assists, 20 appearances