The Rhinos are ensured participation in the 2014 USL Pro playoffs because Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Charlotte Eagles both lost on Saturday night.
If Rochester fails to win this match, they will travel to face Orlando in the first round of the playoffs. If Rochester does grab a victory, they will travel to play LA Galaxy II who sit in third place after beating Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday.
Bob Lilley will want to carry some momentum into the postseason after a huge 4-1 win at Harrisburg City Islanders last week.
Rochester Rhinos starting lineup:
John McCarthy; Onua Obasi, Kyle Hoffer, Babacar Diallo, Pat McMahon; Tony Walls, Alec Sundly, Tyler Rosenlund; Alex Dixon, Minh Vu, JC BanksSubs: Luis Soffner, Pat Slogic, Jossimar Sanchez, Donnie Smith, Lance Rozeboom, Levi Houapeu, Colin Rolfe
This squad shows that Lilley is not taking his foot of the pedal for the most part. After a match last month, Rochester's coach said that it doesn't matter which team they face in the playoffs because they have shown at times the ability to compete with any team in the league. That statement may be tested to the full if Rochester finishes the season in 8th place and has to travel to Southern Florida to take on the juggernaut that is Orlando City SC.
Wilmington Hammerheads FC starting lineup:
Brad Stuver; Troy Cole, Christian Davidson, Brian Ackley, Drew Ruggles; Paul Nicholson, Corben Bone, Sunny Jane, Ross Tomaselli, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Sammy OchoaSubs: Matt Glaeser, Tom Parratt, Ashani Fairclough, Andrae Campbell, Steven Miller, Manuel Aparicio, Cody Arnoux
The Hammerheads are without a couple of the players who faced Rochester in July. Goalkeeper Quillan Roberts and forward Jordan Hamilton have both recalled by Toronto FC. In their place, Wilmington has loaned in goalkeeper Brad Stuver from Columbus Crew and midfielder Corben Bone from Philadelphia Union.
The dangerman for this Wilmington team is Mark-Anthony Kaye. Kaye is an academy player from Toronto who is on loan as an amateur player on the Hammerheads' roster (1 of 5 such places on USL Pro squads) and has had 2 goal+assist games since joining the team.