By EVAN REAM

With just two weeks remaining in the NASL season, FC Edmonton travel to Fort Lauderdale to take on the Strikers, with the winner stepping into the driver’s seat for the fourth and final playoff spot.

While the Strikers are on an absolute tear with 10 points in their previous five matches, head coach Günter Kronsteiner made waves by benching NASL second-leading goalscorer Fafa Picault against Carolina for a perceived lack of effort in practice.

The Eddies come into the match in good form as well following a convincing away win in the Canadian derby at Ottawa, but will face a stiff challenge in south Florida where the Strikers have won their last three matches at home.

Fort Lauderdale currently has a two-point lead on Edmonton in the combined standings.

Here’s a look at the rest of the weekend’s action in the NASL:

RAILHAWKS FACE SILVERBACKS WITH PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS

The only other team with a chance of garnering the final playoff spot are the Carolina RailHawks, who visit an out-of-form Atlanta Silverbacks side Saturday in a match where the visitors must get all three points to have any realistic chance of playing in the postseason this year.

The RailHawks come into the match level on points with FC Edmonton, but with a goal differential that is 12 goals worse, putting the RailHawks in sixth place.

After a promising 2013 in which they finished as the runner-up in the Soccer Bowl, the Silverbacks need to win to avoid the possibility of finishing in last place.

TOP TWO SEEDS BATTLE IN POTENTIAL SOCCER BOWL PREVIEW

Minnesota United has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NASL playoffs, but with a point Saturday against likely No. 2 seed San Antonio Scorpions, the Loons can clinch the Fall Championship.

The visiting Scorpions can clinch the second seed with a win or with a draw and a New York Cosmos draw or loss.

COSMOS LOOK TO LOCK UP NO. 3 SEED

While the New York Cosmos have already secured their spot in the postseason, the club will now look to secure the No. 3 seed – and thus avoid an away game at Minnesota United – by winning all three points against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

With just two points in their previous five games, the Rowdies are coming into the game as heavy underdogs despite being among the favorites to make the playoffs at the start of the season.

EXPANSION SIDES FACE OFF

After suffering through a disastrous 5-12-8 inaugural season, Indy Eleven knocked off the two top teams in the NASL in two consecutive weeks and will look to post their first ever three-game winning streak in the only Sunday match of the weekend.

There opponent, fellow expansion side Ottawa Fury FC, is coming off a disappointing home loss to FC Edmonton.

Neither team can make the playoffs as they both sit near the bottom of the 10-team table.