Carson, CA (My Sportsbook) - Chivas USA can take a major step toward clinching Major League Soccer's top playoff seed in the Western Conference when it hosts the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.

The Goats (13-9-5) are currently in a three-way tie for first in the West with Los Angeles and Houston, but have a game in hand on both teams, meaning they control their own destiny. Chivas USA is also the only team that can challenge the Columbus Crew for the Supporter's Shield, given to the league's top regular season team.

"It's a personal goal of mine to get the Supporters' Shield," Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. "It's big - it shows that over a season you're the best team in the league. Columbus may have it wrapped up pretty soon depending on how they do, but I think if we can finish the season strong, we might have a good chance."

The L.A.-based club is coming off a 2-0 win vs. Kansas City to stretch its unbeaten streak to five league fixtures.

"The most important one is this weekend coming up against San Jose, a team that is out of the playoffs but have been playing well lately," Kljestan said. "To move to 47 points that weekend, and I think that Galaxy and Houston play each other, pending that result maybe we're in first by ourselves and we kind of put a little separation going into the final hard week with two games in three days to finish the season."

San Jose (7-13-8) has been eliminated from playoff contention, but with just one loss in its last six league, it is enjoying playing spoiler. The club is coming off a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC that crippled the Reds' playoff chances thanks to a late goal by Cornell Glen.

"We didn't give up," San Jose coach Frank Yallop said. "There wasn't any blame that we were losing 1-0, and this team is now in great spirits from now being able to see it is possible to achieve what we want to achieve in this league."

San Jose will be without midfielders Darren Huckerby and Andre Luiz, defender Jason Hernandez, and forwards Chris Wondolowski and Cornell Glen because of injuries.

Chivas USA will be without defender Jim Curtin, midfielders Kevin Harmse, Bojan Stepanovic and Sasha Victorine, and forward Ante Razov, while forward Maicon Santos is questionable, and forwards Justin Braun and Jesus Padilla, and Paulo Nagamura are probable with injuries.