Phoenix Rising FC (4-4-4) is approaching a pivotal moment in the 2023 season, facing the Oakland Roots SC on Saturday with a chance to move up in the USL Western Conference standings with a win.Nobody has to remind Rising Head Coach Juan Guerra on how important this match is. He was manager of Oakland in 2022 before departing the club for Phoenix midseason.

After missing the first chance at a reunion during the end of the 2022 campaign, he understands animosity may linger. His former team got the best of Phoenix last season in a 2-0 loss on Sept. 10.

“It's absolutely everything for me,” Guerra said during Wednesday's media availability. “On Monday, I told them what this game represents. I explained to them what this game represents to me, to the staff, to the organization, to the ownership group, to the president and what it represents to my family. On Saturday, the boys are going to be ready to play."

Saturday's game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Phoenix Rising Stadium.

“They also understand the unnecessary position that we put ourselves in. Now we just need to make sure that at home, versus a rival that came here last year and was celebrating in front of our fanbase, our families and all of us, that we make sure we get the job done.”

Oakland (6-2-4) is enjoying a two-game win streak and has won four of their last five in the USL. However, the Roots have continued to run the same system Guerra implemented in his time with the team.

“Feeling very good for this week, I actually cannot wait to see the reaction of the boys,” Guerra said. “It's going to be a tough game, because I know what Oakland is going to do and what they are.”

Part of the success Oakland has seen has been due to the stellar play of Johnny Rodriguez. In a five-match span, the 24-year-old has found the back of the net five times, including the game-winner against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

Guerra praised the young forward, citing his hard work and playing in the same system for a year and a half that has allowed him to thrive in recent outings. On Saturday, he knows that Rodriguez is one his defense will have to monitor throughout.

“If you give him an inch, Johnny is going to take a shot,” Guerra said. “He's done that for his whole career. Now he's feeling more comfortable in the USL championship and he's been doing it, I'm very happy for Johnny.”

Improving in the final third

In their last outing, the Rising dropped a 1-0 game to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds despite controlling over 64% of the possession in the match and having a positive second half, according to players and coaches.

“We were good three, four times (against Pittsburgh),” Guerra said. “We cannot be good three or four times. We have to be good 10, 12, 15 times in the final third.”

The coaching staff has spent ample time in practice on this aspect before facing Oakland, he said.“12 games in, we're doing a lot of things properly, building on the way from the touchline from the goalkeeper all the way up to the final third,” Guerra said. “Now in our process, we have identified that we gotta be better than the final third. Let’s change our mentality, let's be more intense, let's be more aggressive. If we keep doing everything towards the final third, we start creating more chances, we're intense and we put everything together, I think we're going to be okay.”

One player who will likely have an impact on that is Panayioti (Panos) Armenakas, who was recently acquired from Loudoun United prior to the match against Pittsburgh. The midfielder received a call at 1:30 a.m. and hopped on a flight to the game in Pittsburgh and subbed in at the 80th minute for his new club and will make his home debut on Saturday.

Armenakas said the coaching staff has immediately asked him to help create chances in the attacking third, a role he filled in Loudoun. However, his expertise as someone who has played against Oakland and Phoenix already this season is certainly going to be beneficial as well.

“Personally, having played Oakland before this season and having won against them and scored, I kind of know what to expect having done the video analysis,” Armenakas said. “It's kind of the same system that you expect or whatever. I think it's a game of exploiting each other's weaknesses and playing to our strengths.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Rising Head Coach Juan Guerra to Face Former Team on Saturday