A former playoff rival returns to Gillette Stadium on Saturday, as the Revolution (4-7-1, 13 points) and Chicago Fire (5-4-3, 18 points) renew acquaintances for the first time this season.

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m., and it will be televised via Comcast Sports Net New England. The Sports Hub 98.5 will broadcast the game for local listeners.

Last season, the Fire got the best of the Revs in the points department by claiming a 1-1 draw (June 18) and a 3-2 win (Sept. 25) in their two encounters. Although the Fire finished outside of the playoff hunt, its late-season streak to the finish has clearly carried over into 2012.

Chicago has thrived this season due in part to the pair of track stars up top -- Dominic Oduro and Patrick Nyarko. Oduro is a finisher by trade, and a player who, given enough space, can either blast one from a distance or sneak through and score. Nyarko, on the other hand, has blazing speed and is smart on the dribble. When necessary, he can drop back into the midfield to help set up Oduro.

Although Chicago isn't necessarily a possession-oriented team, it has a trio of midfielders who can burn a defense with a simple strike of the ball. Pavel Pardo and Sebastian Grazzini both pressure back fours with intelligent runs and passes, with Pardo especially potent on set pieces. Then, of course, there's Marco Pappa, whose well-documented playmaking abilities have made him a fan favorite in the Windy City.

Yet, if there's one thing that's prevented Chicago from shooting up the table, it’s team defense. Jalil Anibaba and Austin Berry are two young central backs both prone to growing pains.

Another area where the Fire aren't exceptional? Defensive set pieces, which have gifted their opponents a trio of goals in their last two games.

So what will the Revolution have to do to claim three points against the Fire?

1. Exploit the defense. Although the Fire have given up only 15 goals in 13 games, the Anibaba and Berry center back partnership is still a work in progress. This should embolden the Revs attack, particularly striker Saer Sene, who has scored four in his last three games. But the Revolution will also need help from Lee Nguyen and Benny Feilhaber to stretch the Fire back four.

2. Beware the counterattack. It’s no secret the Fire aren’t a possession-focused side. Rather, they rely on their speed and quick thinking to strike from the counterattack. In light of that, the Revolution have to be wary of where they lose possession -- lest they find themselves in a vulnerable position. One thing working in the Revolution’s favor, however, is the absence of Pappa, who will be unavailable on Saturday due to Guatemalan national team commitments.

3. Mark up. The saga of the Revolution’s set-piece troubles continued last week in D.C., where they gave up two goals from dead-ball situations. Much like D.C., the Fire lean on set pieces to get on the board. So, with that in mind, the Revolution have to be especially sharp when Pavel Pardo and Sebastian Grazzini stand over the ball.

Chicago may not be the strongest team in the conference. Nor is it the most organized. But, the Fire have posed a problem for the Revolution in recent years, owning a 7-0-3 record in their last 10 regular-season meetings. Even so, expect the Revolution to keep the Fire on their heels by holding the ball and providing cover on the counterattack.