After the excitement of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday and Wednesday night, the USL Championship returns to action this weekend with a 10-game slate that including a potential postseason matchup in the Eastern Conference, one of the top sides in the West looking to regain its home form, and a potential opportunity for league’s most profligate attack.

Here are three top storylines to know going in, three players to keep an eye on, and what else you need to know before tuning in on CBS Sports Golazo Network and ESPN+.

1. INDY LOOKS TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM

With a place in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinals in its back pocket – and the $25,000 prize for being the last USL Championship club standing with it – Indy Eleven returns home on Saturday night to what will be a hero’s welcome at Michael Carroll Stadium.

Awaiting the Boys in Blue, however, will be a Loudoun United FC side that has gained momentum in the past month and has a chance to gain more ground on the top four.

• UNITED ROLLING: Loudoun United is on a club record seven-game undefeated streak and has won five games in that span. Most of that success has come at home, however, and with only one away win this season the visitors still have something to prove.

• HOME FORTRESS: Indy sits in the top three in the Eastern Conference and has won all three of its prior home meetings with Loudoun, including sweeping the season series last year. After Tuesday night’s impressive performance against Atlanta United FC, keeping that record intact will be important to keep pace with Louisville City FC – which is off this weekend – and the Charleston Battery.

If the USL Championship Playoffs kicked off this weekend, this would be an Eastern Conference Quarterfinal matchup. While that might have seemed unlikely at the start of the campaign, it’s going to be worth tuning in to watch two entertaining sides go at it for the first time this campaign.

2. SACRAMENTO NEEDS HOME BOOST

One of the keys to Sacramento Republic FC becoming a serious challenger in the Western Conference has been its form at Heart Health Park over the past two seasons. After Tuesday night’s elimination from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, though, regaining that home momentum is going to be crucial as North Carolina FC arrives on Saturday night.

• DIP IN THE LEVEL: Republic FC’s home loss to the Sounders was only the third time it has lost at home in 23 home games in the Open Cup all-time, but it’s part of a trend this season. Sacramento’s three home league defeats are already more than in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, when the side lost only twice in each regular season.

• REASON FOR HOPE: The way Sacramento was able to push Seattle in the second half on Tuesday night showed signs that better attacking moments could be on the way. Republic FC had more shots and more possession than their visitors after the halftime break. The Indomitable Club will want to carry that momentum into an important game in the Western Conference standings.

Sacramento’s run of one league win in the last four outings has seen it drop into third place behind rival Oakland Roots SC. Ahead of their showdown on the CBS Television Network on July 21, all three points at home against a solid North Carolina FC side feels like a must.

3. HOUNDS NEED TO GET MOVING

We detailed Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s scoring woes in the News & Notes this week, and any way you slice is a run of 573 minutes without a goal isn’t good. At the same time, there’s still time for the Hounds to turn things around, and there’s more potential in its matchup against the currently surging Oakland Roots SC than you might think.

• PERSISTENCE, PLEASE: For all Pittsburgh’s struggles, chance creation hasn’t been the problem. The Hounds are above average in the Championship with a 23.59 Expected Goals mark, with their lack of composure in front of goal the major challenge.

• ROOTS ON THE ROAD: Oakland has improved remarkably under June Coach of the Month Gavin Glinton, but it’s still been more susceptible defensively away from home than at Pioneer Stadium. Roots has conceded 15 goals in 10 away games this season, compared to nine in nine games at home.

Oakland also suffered defeat in its lone prior trip to the Eastern time zone this season, a 3-1 defeat to Detroit City FC on April 20. With a six-point gap to make up to the playoff positions, things aren’t out of hand for the Hounds, but they need to make a move soon and this game offers potential for that.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Prince Saydee, Charleston Battery – The former Hartford Athletic player only got two minutes when he returned to Trinity Health Stadium in June. After his acquisition by the Battery, he gets a second chance to make an impression on Friday night.

• Bryce Jamison, Orange County SC – The 18-year-old forward has four goals this season and will be on the hunt for more as his side visits the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a rematch of the 2021 Championship Final.

• Amando Moreno, El Paso Locomotive FC – The El Salvador international was lively in his return to action two weeks ago in Rhode Island. If Locomotive is going to pick up a first home win this season as Las Vegas Lights FC, he’ll likely be key.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

#HFDvCHS: Nick Markanich was on target when the Charleston Battery took a 1-0 win on May 4 when Hartford Athletic visited Patriots Point. We’re looking for more adventure from Athletic this time around.

#ELPvLV: El Paso Locomotive FC is going to be without key midfield Eric Calvillo due to his red card in Rhode Island but has had time to rest and prepare for the Lights’ visit. We’ll see if that makes a difference against a Las Vegas side that’s undefeated in its last seven games.

#DETvMEM: Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in its last five meetings with Detroit City FC, something the hosts will want to change here. With the attacks both sides possess, this should be entertaining.

#MIAvRI: Rhode Island is building momentum with a four-game undefeated streak. It needs to carry that on in Miami in the way its other rivals around the playoff line have been in recent weeks.

#BHMvCOS: Birmingham Legion FC needs to rebound after consecutive setbacks but could find it difficult against a Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC side that continues to improve defensively. The first goal is likely to be key.

#TBRvOC: The Tampa Bay Rowdies are back at home and need to start converting their chances. As much potential as Orange County SC’s attack has, there could be a good number of chances in this.

#MBvTUL: Monterey Bay F.C. somehow came away with a victory in Pittsburgh last weekend to stick in the middle of the playoff pack in the West. Tulsa, meanwhile, conceded in stoppage time against Colorado Springs to fall. We’re not quite sure what to expect here.