Washington, D.C. (My Sportsbook) - D.C. United will aim to get a stronger grasp on the last spot in the upcoming Major League Soccer playoffs when it hosts the Western Conference's last placed team, the San Jose Earthquakes, on Sunday afternoon.

United (10-8-7) currently holds a two point advantage for the last playoff spot before Saturday's fixtures, meaning the full points at home on Sunday are imperative.

The team is coming off a 2-1 loss vs. Seattle in its last league fixture on Sept. 12, a loss that snapped a four-game unbeaten run.

"We created enough opportunities to win the game and that's what is disappointing. And obviously we've had a stretch of a month and a half where we've played every three days. It's a very difficult stretch and we knew it was going to be. We counted on these home games to be crucial and we let one slip," D.C. coach Tom Soehn said after the game two weeks ago. " ... I think the team's in dire need of a little break from MLS action and come back a little focused and recharged."

Now that break is up, the team heads into the stretch drive with its next three league fixtures at home before closing out on the road on Oct. 24.

"Right now we need to win games 1-0," United midfielder Ben Olsen said. "I think that's us and hopefully in the near future there is a game where we open the floodgates again. The way we have been defending together has been much better and our fight has been much better in the last four weeks or so and this is a big positive. If that is your starting point you always have a chance."

San Jose (5-12-6) is still alive for a playoff spot mathematically, but any realistic chance went out the window long ago. The team is coming off back-to- back 1-1 draws vs. the Colorado Rapids in a home-and-home series over the last 10 days, and is hoping for the same type of effort on Sunday. That will be a tough task considering the club is just 0-8-3 on the road this season.

"I was talking to one of the guys saying I feel like I'm in one of those cartoons where the cloud of rain follows you wherever you go," 'Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski said. "That's kind of what we feel like right now. If we didn't have bad luck, I don't think we'd have any luck at all. Granted, you make your own luck. We have to play a full 90 minutes and we've played about 89-1/2 the last two games. That's on us."

San Jose will be without forward Cornell Glen midfielder Darren Huckerby, while midfielder Shea Salinas is doubtful and midfielder Arturo Alvarez is probable, all with injuries.

United will be without defenders Bryan Namoff and Greg Janicki, midfielder Brandon Barklage and forward Ange N'Silu, while defender Marc Burch is doubtful, and forwards Santino Quaranta and Boyzzz Khumalo, defender Dejan Jakovic and midfielder Fred are probable with injuries.