After two matches and more than 4,500 miles of travel, Orlando City is preparing to wrap up a long week with its third match in eight days.

The Lions (6-2-0, 18 points) lost Wednesday night in Toronto, but coach Jason Kreis said they’ve rebounded well and looked to be in good spirits during a short training session ahead of their 8:30 p.m. match Saturday against the Houston Dynamo (4-3-1, 13 points) at BBVA Compass Stadium.

“Everyone is in a good mood,” Kreis said as wind flapped a Lone Star State flag at Houston’s training facility on Friday. “We didn’t do a whole lot, but what we did, the guys were sharp and effective, so nice to see. There weren’t really any players who showed a lack of energy or excessive fatigue.”

Orlando City could be back to full strength for the game after having to rest Will Johnson (illness) and Antonio Nocerino (calf). Both trained in full Friday. Kreis said Johnson still was recovering from his flu-like symptoms and is questionable, but that Nocerino looked to be in “a good situation.”

The more players available the better Orlando City, with Houston undefeated at home and boasting the league’s leading goal scorer in Erick Torres. He edges Lions striker Cyle Larin by one goal with seven and Kreis called him “a typical goal poacher.”

The Dynamo have a first-year coach in Wilmer Cabrera, who has toyed with different formations this season and recently deployed a 4-4-2 diamond, matching Orlando City.

Kreis said after watching video, he thought the Dynamo’s 4-4-2 looked like a little bit of a diamond but almost like a modified 4-3-3.

“I think it's interesting to kind of ask yourself whether or not they’ll play that way tomorrow,” Kreis said. “Their last match against Toronto they played with five defenders. At home, they’ve played with four every time.”

Both teams also are coming off a loss to Toronto. The Dynamo’s attack is being billed as one of the league’s most explosive, ranking third with 15 goals scored in eight games compared to the Lions’ 11. Orlando City’s defense is one of the stingiest, having allowed seven goals compared to Houston’s 13.

Orlando City forward Giles Barnes played his entire Major League Soccer career, which began in 2012, with Houston before he was traded to Vancouver last summer. He joined the Lions via trade at the end of February.

Barnes said the Texas heat often is a problem for visiting teams but Orlando City is used to it. The temperature in Houston is supposed to reach 86 degrees Saturday, but should cool down a bit before the evening kickoff. The Lions last home game at Orlando City Stadium was played in 90-degree heat.

“I think a lot of people beat themselves up before coming into Houston, thinking it’s going to be so hot. So, mentally they’re not really prepared for it. We’re used to it,” Barnes said. “We had a little blip in Toronto, but we’ve put that behind us and get kicking on. We’re here to do a job and hopefully come out with three points.”

Defender Tommy Redding said recovering in just three days hasn’t been easy but he’s confident the group will respond because each player is focused on earning three points and is “willing to fight and work for each other.”

That’s the response Kreis is looking for. He wants to see how the team responds to a loss, if the players can bounce back like they did after their first loss of the season in Columbus. After that 2-0 loss, the Lions returned home to beat the New York Red Bulls 1-0.

“We don’t want to go through these two matches and go home with nothing,” Kreis said. “I think it's the best teams in the league that always respond well to adversity and always respond well when they lose. So, that challenge is now in front of us again.”

ardelgallo@orlandosentinel.com