Playoff bid on line tonight for Battery

The USL Pro Division playoffs start a week early for the Charleston Battery.

It's a simple scenario for the Battery: beat the Charlotte Eagles tonight in regulation and face Orlando City in the opening round of the playoffs next weekend. A draw or a loss and the Battery's season is over.

The Battery hosts Charlotte tonight at 8 at Blackbaud Stadium in a game that'll be aired on Fox Soccer Channel.

"We need a win," said Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser. "We need the three points. If we win, we keep our season alive and if we don't, it's over. We've talked about it all week and the guys understand what's at stake. It's like being in a knockout tournament. I don't think anyone will have any problems getting up for a game like this."

The top four teams in each division advance to the postseason. The Battery (9-9-5, 32 points) currently trails Charlotte (9-8-6, 33) by a single point in the American Division.

The Battery will be without a key defender in veteran John Wilson, who got a red card last week against Orlando City and has been suspended for the next two games. Taking Wilson's spot in the lineup will be Sean Flatley, a rookie out of the College of Charleston.

Anhaeuser doesn't expect Charlotte to sit back and defend the entire match.

"That's just not their style," Anhaeuser said. "They might put an extra defender in the back, but I think they'll push the ball if the opportunity is there."