It's admittedly an issue, but Paul Dalglish doesn't mind.

"We have 21 players available for probably the first time all season, and it's probably the first time all season that I'm going to have to leave (three) healthy players watching the game from the sidelines," the Ottawa Fury FC head coach said. "It's a nice problem to have, to be honest."

Keep in mind that Fury FC is 25 games into its 32-game North American Soccer League schedule, but better late than never. It's no coincidence that Dalglish's squad has produced better recent results, with five consecutive draws preceding last weekend's 3-2 comeback victory against the same Minnesota United FC side that will provide opposition Saturday night at TD Place stadium.

"We had a lot of injuries early on. We had a lot of players coming in early on at different positions, doing different roles, but everyone is on the same page now," said forward Carl Haworth, Fury FC's leading scorer with seven NASL goals despite his own injury absence after his left ankle was sprained in practice.

"It seems to be coming together. Maybe a little late, but, like I said, we just want to try and have the best performances now that we can right now."

Now would be a good time, no doubt.

The well-documented injury woes and the resulting lack of production — both goals and victories — put Fury FC in such a deep hole that the 2015 Soccer Bowl finalists have only faint playoff hopes this year. Haworth and his teammates have 10 points and five other clubs between themselves and United FC, which holds the fourth and final post-season position.

"To take a look at all the games we have left and try to analyze how we can get in by (other) teams losing and how many points we can pick up here and there, it's just going to cause us a headache," defender Eddie Edward said. "So I think we just take it one game at time. If we get some wins, then we re-evaluate."

After Saturday's contest, Fury FC heads to Florida for a Wednesday matchup with Miami FC, followed by home games against Puerto Rico FC (Oct. 2) and New York Cosmos (Oct. 9). By then, even with three matches remaining, the playoff picture should be clear.

Dalglish admitted he'd be lying if he said he hadn't worked out points-per-game averages of all teams and what Fury FC needed to get back in the battle.

"As long as it's a possibility, we'll take one game at a time and keep trying to win," he said. "These games against the teams that are going for that fourth spot, they're very, very important."

MINNESOTA UNITED FC at FURY FC

Saturday, 7 p.m., at TD Place stadium. TV: Rogers 22. Radio: TSN1200 and 94.5 Unique FM

Scouting Report

Ottawa:Fury FC will be trying to extend its six-game undefeated streak (1-5-0) with as complete a lineup as head coach Paul Dalglish has had all season. Defender Kyle Porter (groin) and forward Gerardo Bruna (groin) have been listed as "game-time decisions." Midfielder Bryan Olivera is available again after missing last weekend's matchup at Minnesota because of a one-game suspension for a red card in the previous game against Carolina.

Minnesota:Keep an eye on Christian Ramirez. Fury FC defenders should. Coming into this week's schedule, Ramirez led the North American Soccer League with 15 goals, including a penalty-kick strike against Fury FC last weekend. In fact, Ramirez has scored in five consecutive matches against Ottawa, including a 2015 playoff contest, and he has averaged a goal per game in nine total matchups since Fury FC entered the NASL in 2014. On the down side, United has lost two in a row and it hasn't won a road game since April.

Storyline

Getting back into playoff contention was always a long-shot after Fury FC dug itself a huge hole in the spring season and the early portion of the fall schedule. There is still a shot, however, and it pretty much comes down to this match because, at 6-8-11 and 10th place in the combined standings, Fury FC trails United FC by 10 points with just seven matches remaining. At 10-6-9, United FC led Miami FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies and Fort Lauderdale Strikers by four points entering this week's play, but all those clubs had a game in hand on the NASL's fourth-place club. To complicate matters, Fury FC would also have to climb past Rayo OKC and Carolina RailHawks, which are both four points in front.

What to expect

These two teams have virtually the same defensive capabilities, with Fury FC conceding 29 goals and 94 shots to United's 28 and 92, while also recording eight shutouts to Minnesota's nine. The big difference between these clubs is on the attack, where Fury FC has produced 24 goals and 88 shots to United's 35 and 107. Now that Ottawa head coach Paul Dalglish has a full roster of healthy players, though, his side should be better equipped to push forward with the ball. Last Saturday's three-goal output in Minnesota equalled an NASL regular-season high for Fury FC.

History

Fury FC has rallied twice against United FC for results in 2016, first with a 2-2 draw in its home opener at TD Place stadium on April 30, then with a stunning 3-2 triumph in front of a sellout crowd of 9,388 at Minnesota's NSC Stadium. Giuseppe Gentile, Ryan Williams and Danny Mwanga all scored their first goal in Fury FC colours, while Jamar Dixon recorded his first two assists with the club. Overall, Ottawa is 3-2-4 against Minnesota.