Everything is still on the line for Birmingham Legion as they enter the final round of USL Jägermeister Cup action.

The Three Sparks have put themselves in a strong position heading into their game against Forward Madison, but still have work to do. While a win in 90 minutes would guarantee Legion a spot in the competition’s final eight, anything less is reliant on games elsewhere.

“I think it’s making them realize that tomorrow is the first playoff game of the year,” Mark Briggs said. “We have to make sure we turn up and we understand that. [We have to make sure] we don’t freeze in that. We understand that and perform at the level we know we have to perform at.

“It’s not a normal game,” he added. “It’s not a normal week. The preparation is the same, but the focus and the detail to which they need to feel is different.”

Forward Madison, a USL League One team, has struggled for much of the season. However, the Flamingos are picking up form at just the wrong time for Legion with two wins and a draw in their last three games.

Given Birmingham’s propensity for dropping results against lower-ranked opponents, Briggs is aware his team cannot take anything for granted.

Following a disappointing last outing against bottom-of-the-West Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Briggs said there had been “consequences” for the players. He hopes those will encourage them to perform better this weekend.

“The only thing you can control is your attitude and your willingness to run, your effort,” Briggs said. “That’s all you can control. And my problem is those two things haven’t been happening. If I get those two things, everything else I’m okay with.”

One key player the Three Sparks will have to keep an eye on will be very familiar to Legion’s backline.

Lucca Dourado, on-loan at the Wisconsin club from Birmingham, is eligible to face his parent club Saturday. He’s been a revelation in Madison’s recent resurgence, scoring twice and assisting another two in their last three games.

Though Dourado went off amid concussion fears in Madison’s last game, a 1-0 midweek win over South Georgia Tormenta where he scored the only goal, he will be eager to take to the field at Protective Stadium and show what he can do. He won’t be the only one, as Temi Ereku is another Legion player on loan with the League One club.

“We sent them to Madison because they’ve got a very good head coach and they play very similar to how we play,” Briggs said.

Madison’s head coach, Matt Glaeser, is a longtime friend of the Englishman and was one of his assistants at all his previous stops.

“From a learning perspective, they’re going to learn and understand, when they come back, in greater detail what we want,” Briggs continued. “And it’s an opportunity for them to go and grow and develop. So when they come back next year, they’re ready to go in the first team. They’re ready to compete and pull on our jersey.

“That will be an added motivation for them tomorrow,” he added. “They’ll want to come in and show me, show Jay [Heaps], well ‘why did you send me on loan? I can play here.’ So that’s something we have to deal with as a group. We have to handle as a group.”

Legion practiced penalties in their Matchday -1 session this morning, but will hope to avoid a shootout that could see them miss out on a wildcard spot. Fernando Delgado, who saved a penalty in the previous shootout at Indianapolis, said he loves penalties, but Briggs made it clear he wants to get the job done early.

“We’ve got to win,” Briggs said. “I want to win in 90. I want to see the team tomorrow, I want to see the team I see on the road. I want to see a team that’s hungry. I want to see a team that has that chip on their shoulder.

“I want to see a team that’s willing to do whatever they can for the team to have success, not whatever I can for myself to have success. I’m going to play my part in the cohesion of the team, which results in success for the team.”

Birmingham Legion host Forward Madison at 7 p.m. Saturday at Protective Stadium.

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