Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith will not change formation for their trip to Columbus Crew this weekend, despite injuries hitting his squad.

The visitors will be without up to seven first-team players, including Nathan Byrne and Jahlane Forbes, this weekend, but have been in good form so far with six victories and a draw from 10 league games.

"I won't change the shape. I think our shape has given us stability. It's given us some continuity, players understand what we're after with and without the ball," Smith told his pre-game press conference.

"I think we're improving every game at the moment."

His decision to stick with the current system comes after a 1-0 defeat at home to New England Revolution, in which the hosts outshot their visitors by 18 to seven.

"Our performance was good. We come back and reflect on the game and review the game, and I believe I'm probably much the happier coach but without three points," said Smith.

"What we didn't do was take the chances that we made, but if we play like that on a regular basis, we win more games.

"If you're going through a game and only have two or three shots, you're not going to win games. I felt that was our best performance this season."

Looking ahead to their trip to second-placed Columbus Crew, Smith acknowledged that his side face another tough challenge.

"They're really good with the football. They have really good rotation, they're very well coached," he said.

"We had two really good games against them last season, and I'm looking forward to playing them again.

"It's going to be a great challenge for us, and we think we're in a great spot in terms of how we're playing at the moment."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi

Diego Rossi is Columbus's top scorer this season with five goals, while he has also contributed one assist.

The Uruguayan averages 3.2 shots per game, which is at least 1.4 more than any other Crew player.

Charlotte – Wilfried Zaha

Wilfried Zaha has won an MLS-high 28 fouls this season, with eight of those coming in the attacking third, tied for the third most in MLS.

The Ivorian has scored two goals so far this season and averages two shots per game in MLS, more than any other player in the squad.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

Columbus have 21 points through 10 matches this season (W6 D3 L1), equaling their second most at this stage of a season (21 in 2010, 23 in 2020).

The Crew have won four of their last five matches, with all four wins coming by 2-1 scorelines.

The hosts come into this match currently second in the Eastern Conference, having won six and drawn three of their 10 games in MLS so far this season.

Charlotte, meanwhile, travel to Columbus on the back of a 1-0 defeat to the New England Revolution, while both of their other two defeats have come on the road.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew – 56.7%

Draw – 22.4%

Charlotte – 20.9%