The Portland Timbers have yet to win a road game this season, a well-chronicled struggle.

Flipside? They've put together the best home record of any team in Major League Soccer and the best home record in club history.

Putting those factors together, Portland finds itself in fifth place in the Western Conference standings after 30 of 34 games, a point ahead of Sporting Kansas City and six points clear of the Seattle Sounders, who sit just below the red line in seventh place.

So, really, how much does a road win mean down the stretch, this late in the season?

"It matters because of points. Three points is better than one point," Timbers coach Caleb Porter said Wednesday. "Hypothetically speaking, you could probably win an MLS Cup by drawing on the road, but that's not going to be what we're going to do."

Their next chance comes this Saturday, when the Timbers (11-11-8, 41 points) play at the Houston Dynamo (6-11-11, 29 points) at 6 p.m. Pacific time.

Portland is coming off a 2-1 win against the Eastern Conference's Philadelphia Union last Saturday, the 11th home win of the season.

That success at home may play a role in the road record, Porter said, because maybe it has lessened the urgency to get points away from Providence Park.

"The guys aren't happy that we haven't gotten a win (on the road). In fact I think they're a little bit angry about it," he said. "This is the time. This is the last box, really, we need to tick off before going into the postseason.

"The guys want to definitely tick off that last box."

Against Philadelphia, Porter was able to select his first 11 from a nearly full, healthy roster. That has been rare. The Timbers have had to deal with choices limited by injury, suspensions and absences throughout the season.

And just when the Timbers looked ready to bring everyone on the road, two players had setbacks.

Porter said winger Lucas Melano is dealing with a groin issue and defender Vytas sustained a broken rib in the Union match.

That means they'll miss both games on this two-game trip. The Timbers will fly from Houston to El Salvador for a CONCACAF Champions League match against CD Dragon on Tuesday before returning to Portland.

The Timbers beat the Dynamo in their last match in June in dramatic fashion. Midfielder Diego Valeri assisted on Portland's first goal and scored the other two -- converting a penalty kick for the game-winning score in the 90th minute as the Timbers came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Houston 3-2.

He's not willing to give up a loss or settle for another draw on the road.

"We are looking to win," said Valeri, who is second on the team in goals with 12. "We know that we can perform well and win the game."