Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver wants to put things right against the Vancouver Whitecaps after suffering a heavy defeat in the reverse fixture in MLS.

Austin were beaten 5-1 by Vancouver when the sides met back in April, and Nico Estevez's side have won just once in the league since then (D1 L3).

They ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United on Wednesday, which leaves Austin eighth in the Western Conference on 17 points.

"We know what happened in Vancouver, and a lot of us still have a really sour taste about what happened there," Stuver said. "So, we want to make sure that we're ready."

Despite their recent run, Estevez also believes Austin are on track to turn their season around by regaining their form from the start of the campaign.

"I think if we look back at our recent performances, like against Minnesota [United], Houston [Dynamo] and Atlanta [United], we are taking steps forward to become the team that we want to be," he said.

"We have to use the time that we have to start building to Vancouver and improve certain things that we can get better."

Vancouver, meanwhile, top the standings in the West with 27 points, four more than second-placed San Diego FC.

They are unbeaten in their last seven matches in MLS (W4 D3) and come into this game having come from behind to draw 2-2 with Los Angeles FC last weekend.

Head coach Jesper Sorensen is expecting a much closer game than the reverse fixture, but believes Vancouver still have what it takes to win at Q2 Stadium.

"I expect them to have been able to look into the first game and come up with something else, but also they're on home turf in front of their crowd," he said.

"We've done relatively well in the away games, so we want to push the buttons a little harder than we did against LA, and then we'll be good.

"We need to trust what we're doing and carry over our intensity in training to the game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Brandon Vasquez

Brandon Vazquez has scored each of Austin's last three regular-season goals, netting the Verde’s lone strike in its draw with Atlanta United on Wednesday.

Vazquez has scored four of their last seven goals dating back to late March.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

Brian White scored both Whitecaps goals in Vancouver's 2-2 draw with Los Angeles FC on Sunday and has now scored six times in his last three matches.

Both of White's goals on Sunday were headers, the second time he has scored multiple headed goals in a match in his Whitecaps career (also in 2021).

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

Vancouver have lost only one of their nine all-time meetings with Austin (W6 D2), including winning the last two. Austin's only win over the Whitecaps was a 3-0 home victory in April 2022.

The Whitecaps are the ninth team in MLS history to collect at least 27 points in their first 12 matches of a season. Vancouver are unbeaten through their first five away matches this season, their longest road unbeaten run to start a season.

Meanwhile, after three straight wins to end March, Austin have won only one of their last seven regular-season matches (D2 L4). Austin have managed only four goals in this seven-match run.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 29.1%

Draw – 24.6%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 46.3%