Austin FC head coach Nico Estevez anticipates a difficult test for his side when they face Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Estevez's side make the trip to America First Field to face an RSL side that have won their last two games in MLS (3-2 versus Atlanta United and 2-1 against the Seattle Sounders).

Salt Lake's only defeat this season came in their opening game against the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are one of just four teams in the league to maintain their 100% start through the first three games (also San Diego FC, San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles FC).

Austin started their season with a 2-2 draw with Minnesota United before defeating D.C. United 1-0, but the visitors lost their first away game of the season, 3-1 to Charlotte FC, last time out.

Guilherme Biro was sent off for Austin at 0-0 in the defeat, and though it was 1-1 at the break, Charlotte raced to victory in the second half.

Nevertheless, Estevez feels he has seen enough from Austin's opening three games to know they can compete on the road.

When asked about RSL's performances this season, Estevez said: "I think they are a team that has a lot of youth. Quality youth players that have fit really well into the system.

"You can see how well they are playing, and they had good signings throughout the off-season.

"It is going to be difficult. Real Salt Lake is always a difficult team in this league. Even more so, playing away. [America First] Field is a difficult place to go for every team.

"But we have shown in our two home games this season, our first-half with 10 men against Charlotte, that we are ready to compete in away games."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Zavier Gozo

Gozo and Aiden Hezarkhani, both 18 years old, scored in Real Salt Lake's win over Atlanta.

It is the fourth time in MLS history that two players 18 years old or younger scored in the same match, and the first since Griffin Yow and Kevin Paredes did so for D.C. United in 2021.

Austin FC – Christian Ramirez

Ramirez has scored five goals in eight career MLS matches against Real Salt Lake (including playoffs), equalling his most against any opponent in MLS play.

Ramirez, however, failed to score in either of his two away matches against RSL, with Minnesota in 2017 and Houston in 2019.

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN

Real Salt Lake are unbeaten in five straight meetings with Austin FC (W3 D2). There have only been two clean sheets in 11 all-time meetings between the sides (one by each team), with both teams scoring at least once in each of the last seven meetings.

Going back to the end of last season, RSL have won eight of their last 11 home MLS matches (L3), including the last three in a row. Six of the eight victories, including the last two, have been by one-goal margins.

Austin failed to record a shot on target in their 3-1 loss at Charlotte, with their goal coming via an own goal.

It was the first time since August 2024 that Austin did not register at least one shot on target in a regular-season match.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 49.7%

Draw – 25.4%

Austin – 24.9%