By COLE KELLOGG

The weekend of USL action comes after a busy midweek schedule, with five matches being played between Tuesday and Friday.

This weekend, last place Montreal will take on Eastern Conference opponent the Richmond Kickers, who sit third overall with 23 points.

Elsewhere in the league, first place Rochester Rhinos will face over-achieving USL expansion side Louisville City FC, Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Energy will take on the Tulsa Roughnecks, and the Charleston Battery will travel to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Mid-table teams clash with the bottom of the table in several matches this weekend, as Sacramento Republic takes on Arizona United, the Colorado Switchbacks play Real Monarchs, Red Bulls II take on the Wilmington Hammerheads, and the Richmond Kickers play FC Montreal.

Here is a closer look at this weekend’s USL action:

LA GALAXY II vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS II (5 p.m., Sunday)

LA sits third in the Western Conference going into Sunday’s match. Los Dos has only lost twice in its past eight matches, posting six wins in that time. Ariel Lassiter leads the team with four goals, while Raul Mendiola and Jack McBean have contributed with seven and four assists respectively.

Vancouver has had a rough season so far, with six losses and only three wins. Whitecaps II is winless in three, and have only scored two goals in that time while conceding seven. Homegrown player Caleb Clarke leads the team with five goals and one assist this season.

AUSTIN AZTEX vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS 2 (9 p.m., Sunday)

Austin has lost three of its past four games, having only scored three goals while conceding five. The Aztex’s season had been very back-and-forth until a three game losing streak lasting up until last week. The team took a smash and grab 1-0 victory at Sacramento, thanks to a goal from Kris Tyrpak.

Portland has also lost three of its last four matches, but has a worse defensive record. Timbers 2 have conceded eight goals in its last four matches. The one recent bright spot for the sliding Western Conference team was a 3-1 win over Tulsa two weeks back, in which Kharlton Belmar scored and Michael Nanchoff recorded a brace.

PITTSGURGH RIVERHOUNDS vs. CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE (7 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)

The Riverhounds currently sit in playoff position, but must keep up recent results to stay there. The Riverhounds haven’t lost in four matches, recording two wins and two draws. Before tying Saint Louis FC, 1-1 last week, the Riverhounds beat Harrisburg City 6-5 in a thrilling matchup. The Riverhounds have had seven different goalscorers in its last three matches.

The Independence, meanwhile, has only won two matches all season and have games in hand against those above them, but the team is winless in three and hasn’t shown excitement this season. Ryan Finely leads the Independence with three goals and one assist in league play.

LOUISVILLE CITY FC vs. ROCHESTER RHINOS (7:05 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)

Louisville City has impressed so far in its first year, sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, but faces a tough task against league-leaders in the Rhinos this weekend. Louisville has only lost once this season, though, while recording five wins and five draws. Matt Fondy leads the scoring chart with six goals.

The Rhinos boasts the most impressive record in the league, still undefeated 11 games into the USL season, but results have slowed recently, with two draws in its last three matches. The team’s astounding record of only four goals allowed will not give much hope to Louisville when these top teams clash on Saturday.

TULSA ROUGHNECKS vs. OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY (8 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)

The Roughnecks are another team with a very back-and-forth season. The Roughnecks are coming up, though, with three wins in their last four games. The team posted an incredible 5-1 victory over Sounders 2 last week. Forward Adam Black scored a brace in that match, while midfielder Lucas Cordeiro scored one goal and assisted two others.

The Energy, meanwhile, sits atop the Western Conference with 21 points from 11 games and is coming into this matchup on a four game winning streak. Danni Konig and Kyle Greig have amassed three goals apiece in that streak.

HARRISBURG CITY ISLANDERS vs. SAINT LOUIS FC (8:30 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)

FC MONTREAL vs. RICHMOND KICKERS (7 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)

NEW YORK RED BULLS II vs. WILMINGTON HAMMERHEADS FC (7 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)

COLORADO SWITCHBACKS FC vs. REAL MONARCHS SLC (9 .m., Saturday, YouTube)

SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC vs. ARIZONA UNITED SC (10:30 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)