NASHVILLE, Tenn. – From the point that Nashville SC announced that its first meeting with FC Cincinnati would be held at Nissan Stadium (8:30 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+), anticipation had been building for what is set to be one of two major contests this Saturday night as the USL officially reaches the midway point of the 2018 regular season.

But with FCC coming off an undefeated month of June that saw the side rack up a league-best 15 goals across four wins and two draws and Nashville having gone 4-1-1 since May 30 to move into third place in the Eastern Conference standings, the clash is between two sides in excellent form as they both stake a claim as a serious USL Cup contender.

But as impressive as Cincinnati’s attack has been over the past month, Nashville Head Coach Gary Smith believes his side will be facing a similar challenge to that it has already experienced in its inaugural season.

“Their form and league standing tells us that they are very capable,” said Smith. “However, I look around at some of the other teams we’ve played, Louisville obviously being one of those teams with the success that they’ve had, and I’ve got to say when we played NYRBII away from home they were incredibly bright for 45 minutes and are really difficult to play against, Tampa was also a tough game away from home.

“I would go as far as to say ‘yes, we need to respect what they’re about,’ They are for sure one of a top group of very creative teams. We’ll be mindful, we’ll be ready, but I don’t think that they’re any more effective than the teams I’ve mentioned.”