Doug Starnes pops in for his usual preview of the weekend’s action. Follow Doug on Twitter at @GrassInTheSky1.

Indy are in a top-of-the-table scrap this weekend against Minnesota United. Let that sink in for a moment. Even with the team’s well documented struggles going forward, the fact remains that Indy has one of the stingiest defenses in the league and, lest you forgot, is the NASL’s lone undefeated side. The team has a very real chance of winning the spring season and locking up the club’s first ever playoff appearance. In order to achieve this heretofore unachievable dream, Indy would love to get a win against the visiting league leading Loons (how’s that for alliteration) tomorrow evening at The Mike.

So, what do we know about Minnesota?

4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1?

Whichever system they play, Minnesota will be a technically and tactically proficient team both in defense and going forward. The system the team favored most last season was a 4-1-4-1, with Juliano Vincentini (who apparently just wants to be called “Juliano” this season) or Aaron Pitchkolan operating as the lone screen in front of the back four.

With an influx of new signings in their final season as a NASL side, Minnesota has upgraded in a number of positions, notably with Jeb Brovsky, previously of NYCFC, Montreal, and Vancouver. Known as a defender, Borvsky has been operating as a holding midfielder, either alone or with Vincentini in a dual pivot role.

My gut is that Minnesota will stick with the 4-1-4-1 they used in their 2-0 win away to Jacksonville Armada in their last match. In spite of the fact that they’ve most often deployed a 4-2-3-1 this season, I don’t think they’ll have any reason to fear Indy’s attack and will focus instead on pressuring the Eleven central midfield, creating width in attack, and pushing numbers forward in an effort to disorganize Indy’s back line. If Indy can somehow build into Minnesota’s defensive third and find space between the Loons’ back line and Jeb Brovsky, they could shoot a giant hole in United’s game plan…assuming I’m right. I know, I know. BIG assumption.

Ndjock: Cameroonian Slang for “Adventure”

Sammy Ndjock is undoubtedly an athletic and acrobatic goalkeeper. He is more than capable of picking an impossible-to-save shot out of the top corner. However, he’s also more than capable of clearing a ball right to an opposing attacker’s feet or letting a harmless shot go right through him and into the back of the net. In short, you never know what you’re going to get.

Indy would be well advised to put shots on target early and often and to follow those shots in anticipation that Ndjock will do something Ndjocky and present the opportunity for a cheap goal. He is Minnesota’s weakest link. The challenge for Indy, a club with milk teeth in the attacking end so far this season, is to test him for 90 minutes.

Plenty of Attacking Talent

Minnesota are blessed with talented attacking players. In the off season United signed Lance Laing and Stefano Pinho, two of the NASL’s most dynamic attacking talents from last season. Additionally, Minnesota signed Venezuelan international Bernardo Añor and MLS veterans Ben Speas and Danny Cruz. They join the already feared Christian Ramirez and have all worked their way into various incarnations of the Minnesota starting XI.

Whether with a front 5 or front 4, Minnesota likes to attack with their wide backs, Justin Davis and Kevin Venegas. Both backs possess plenty of pace and can provide quality service from wide spaces. The danger for Indy is that they get overwhelmed in central midfield, pinned back, and while Minnesota’s front 4 or 5 interchange and combine, Davis and Venegas gain free reign of the flank space.

What About Indy?

Tim Hankinson’s ongoing challenge has been to put the right players in the right spots to create attacking opportunities. Thus far, the sort of attacking balance he seeks as eluded the Eleven. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team shift back to a 4-2-3-1 for this match, but with different personnel across the front 4. Dylan Mares certainly seems to have done enough to justify his inclusion as a central attacking midfielder. Perhaps with pace in front and beside him, he can facilitate getting numbers into the attacking third. Mares’s inclusion would come at the expense of Siniša Ubiparipović, but it’s tough to argue, even though Ubiparipović has been played out of position/role, that he’s been more effective than has Mares.

As I pointed out after last week’s match, Indy was undone through the midfield over and over again. I would expect to see Nicki Paterson return to the starting XI this week, perhaps as a dual pivot with Gorka Larrea. Larrea has talent on the ball, but he’s not going to cover every blade of grass and destroy attacking moves. Paterson has that ability and, as a partner to Larrea in the 4-2-3-1, he might free the Basque midfielder up to pick passes as a deep-lying playmaker. If there are going to be a substantive changes, I think these are them.

Shout Out to Kristian Nicht

It doesn’t look like Nicht will be in the side for Minnesota’s visit to Indy, which is unfortunate because I know he’d get a warm and enthusiastic welcome from Indy Eleven supporters. Regardless, Kristian was a great servant to the club and a fan favorite for all the right reasons. Thanks, Kristian!