East Rutherford, NJ (My Sportsbook) - If the Major League Soccer playoffs started this weekend, New England and New York would be first round opponents, making Saturday's regular season matchup at Giants Stadium that much more intriguing.

The Revolution are currently second in the Eastern Conference - behind D.C. - and have already clinched their playoff spot, while the Red Bulls are third - one point up on fourth-placed Kansas City - and still have a bit more work to do to get in.

While the Revs have their playoff spot booked early, they won't be taking this game, or any of the other four left on their regular season schedule lightly, according to veteran goalkeeper Matt Reis.

"It is still business as usual. We want to give ourselves the best possible playoff spot. Obviously we'd like to win the Eastern Conference. We are striving to catch D.C. and we are going to be facing a lot of same teams, or some of them at least (down the stretch), so we want to make sure that we are on top of our game," he said.

New England has already beaten New York twice this season, with the latest being a 2-1 victory at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 25. That win was made possible by a Carlos Mendes own-goal 10 minutes from time, handing New York a devastating loss after it led at the break.

"Unfortunately there was a miscue with (Mendes and New York goalkeeper) Jon Conway that we got the goal (on) and ended up winning the game," Reis said. "It is something that happens but I think we put good pressure on the Red Bulls and if that hadn't gone in, I think we would have been able get another goal (anyway)."

New York will be looking to break the recent streak of success by New England over it, with the Revs going 6-0-1 in the two teams last seven meetings dating back to the 2005 season.

"We have shown that we can go into the Meadowlands and get points out of there and that is what we are going to try to do this weekend," Reis said.

New York should see the return of striker Jozy Altidore, who has been out since Sept. 1 with an injury. He is not listed on the team's injury report this week. Altidore's presence will make a big difference in the team's attack, with him teaming up with leading scorer Juan Pablo Angel up top to give the Red Bulls some scoring balance. Angel is in the running for the league's Golden Boot with 15 goals, just four back of league-leader Luciano Emilio with D.C.

"They are both dangerous on the field and can shoot from distance and also can get it in and score goals with their heads," Reis said. "We just have to be aware where of they are. I think if we can limit their service to the midfield from their back it will give us a much better chance to pull one out."

The Red Bulls will have to be equally wary of the Revs' forward tandem of Taylor Twellman and Pat Noonan who has combined for 21 goals in league play this season.

"What is good about them is they are always looking to combine with each other and Noonan is a great passer of the ball and can find Taylor," Reis said. "They have a sense of where each other are going to be on the field. Pat has shown that he can score quit a few goals in New York, I think he's scored the most goals against them."

After Saturday's fixture, the Red Bulls close out the month by hosting Real Salt Lake on Sept. 29 while New England hosts Colorado the same day.

Note: The MLS Disciplinary Committee fined New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol $1,000 for public criticism of league officiating following the team's 402 loss at D.C. Sept. 9. Nicol was dismissed from the bench during the game and suspended for the team's 4-2 win at Dallas last weekend. The $1,000 fine is in addition to the mandatory $500 fine and a one-game suspension.