It’s only a preseason friendly, but to fans this is much more. 

Orlando City and New York City FC will meet for the first time as MLS expansion clubs when the two teams make their debut at the Carolina Challenge Cup this Saturday at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Dozens, if not hundreds, or Orlando City supporters are expected to make the six hour trip up to Charleston for the 7 p.m. kickoff, which follows the tournaments opening match, Houston Dynamo vs. Charleston Battery. 

The Lions are undefeated this preseason, if you’re into that, having won one and drawn three out of their four games.  The Challenge Cup will be there final chance to get things right before their actual first match against NYCFC at the Citrus Bowl on March 8. 

Adrian Heath told Orlando Sentinel reporter Paul Tenorio that he hopes to have his lineup and roster figured out by the time they leave Charleston next weekend. 

“I’d be lying if I didn’t think I’d like to be settled in my mind on what the starting lineup is on the opening day,” Heath said. “ Will that happen?  I don’t know.  Sometimes it takes a little bit longer than that.  If we can be physically and mentally as right as we can be having had six weeks work, then that’s the most important thing.  Because I don’t think we’re going to be having much of a problem getting up for the game on opening night.” 

One has to wonder when, or if, we’ll see winger Carlos Rivas back on the field.  The Colombian teenager rejoined the team in training this week, albeit doing lighter work on the side, after spending the last couple of week on the sideline with a shoulder injury. 

Rivas’ absence from training has lead to the late emergence of midfielder Lewis Neal, who’s impressive showing during this preseason camp has led to the possibility of starting minutes early in the season, especially the March 8 opener. 

The lineup that we see against New York tomorrow could say a lot about what we see in just over two weeks when the season starts. 

New York City is back in the States for the third and final leg of their preseason tour after spending the past couple of weeks training with their parents in Manchester.  After playing a couple of closed-door friendlies in Florida, the team beat St. Mirren FC, 2-0, then lost to Brondby FC five days later, 2-0. 

Unlike Orlando City, who were able to enter MLS with a style and system already in place from the USL days, NYCFC is a squad coming together for the very first time this season.  They looked great in their first two games, according to Twitter — though now I think about it, those could have been overreactions — but still appear far from being anywhere near where Jason Kreis would want them to be. 

Kreis assembled a talented roster, for the most part, putting together a good midfield with Ned Grabavoy, Mix Diskerud, and Sebastian Velasquez — and Frank Lampard if/when he shows up — with David Villa as the dangerous man up top. 

More so than Orlando, their defense is a major concern, and could be suspect to goal storms more than once this season.