Interim Sporting Kansas City head coach Kerry Zavagnin is keen to make his team's home advantage count after a stretch of road games throughout the month of May. 

Sporting Kansas played six league games last month, four of which were away from home, winning just one of those matches against the Houston Dynamo on May 31. 

That run of form sees Zavagnin's side down in 12th in the Western Conference, but three consecutive home games provide the Sporting Kansas boss hope of a revival. 

"I think it was just today when I was looking at the fact we were seven out of nine on the road," Zavagnin said. "I transmitted that to the group. 

"We knew coming into the season that May was going to be a challenging month so if we could get through that month in a decent way, we felt like we were going to be able to set ourselves up for the home stand, which we have. 

"We haven't got maximum points, and we suffered a tough defeat last weekend against LA, but we're positioned in a way that if we take care of our home games, one play at a time, we will enter the final stretch in a good way."

Dallas also struggled during May, failing to pick up a single win in their six league games (D3 L3), last tasting victory in a 4-3 triumph over Inter Miami on April 27. 

Their last MLS fixture saw them go toe-to-toe with Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union, managing a goalless draw despite Lalas Abubakar first-half dismissal. 

Dallas are a place and two points above this weekend's opponents, though much has been made of their young squad and their start to the season under Eric Quill. 

Nearly half of the Dallas roster has players who have emerged from the academy, and while that's a challenge in trying to win titles, it also represents the franchise's identity.

"You just take pride in the time and effort you spent with these young players," head coach Quill said. 

"I got into this game to help players be the best versions of themselves and take them beyond the levels they think they’re capable of."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting Kansas – Daniel Salloi

Salloi has scored nine regular-season goals against Dallas, including in the meeting in March, three more than against any other opponent in his MLS career.

The only player to score more goals in regular-season meetings between the teams was Jason Kreis for Dallas against Kansas City (14).

FC Dallas – Luciano Acosta

Acosta has been the standout performer in an underwhelming season for Dallas, netting three goals in 15 appearances since his switch from FC Cincinnati.

In their goalless draw with the Philadelphia Union, the Argentine ended the game with team-high totals for chances created (two) and crosses (five).

MATCH PREDICTION: SPORTING KANSAS WIN

The home side has won each of the last eight meetings between Sporting Kansas and Dallas in all competitions, including Kansas City recording four straight home wins over Dallas for the first time since 2015-16.

Sporting Kansas' four-match unbeaten run ended with a 3-1 away loss to LAFC. They have not lost consecutive matches since late March, with defeats to LAFC and FC Dallas.

Dallas, meanwhile, have won only one of their last 10 regular-season matches dating back to late March (D5 L4). Dallas totalled four goals in its lone win in that time, a 4-3 victory at Inter Miami, while scoring five goals in the other nine games.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting Kansas – 40.4%

Draw – 26.6%

FC Dallas – 33%