(Sports Network) - The Columbus Crew will be aiming to clinch the Supporter's Shield, which goes to Major League Soccer's regular season champion, when they travel to take on D.C. United on Saturday night.

A Crew victory coupled with a Chivas USA loss or draw vs. San Jose ensures Columbus the regular season crown and the top seed in the upcoming playoffs.

Columbus (13-5-10) is coming off a 1-0 win at New England last weekend in which a Gino Padula free kick bounced in the penalty area and squirted past Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis.

Columbus earned that victory with a lineup featuring eight players under 25- years-old, something that bodes well for the club's future.

"That is something we can build around. The guys are young. That's the future of the Columbus Crew," Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. "We have a good group of guys. We have to add two or three to the mix and we're going to be very, very good."

D.C. United (8-8-12) is in more dire straits, with a loss and a New England win vs. Chicago eliminating it from playoff contention. The team is coming off a 2-0 loss vs. Chivas USA last week.

"I'm flustered that we could come out and not have real energy in the first half," D.C. coach Tom Soehn said after the loss. "I think we've been saying the right things all week and then to come out flat and have them take the game to us was very disappointing. We tried to energize ourselves and get some legs on. In the end, we didn't have the legs to begin with."

United now knows it's last two games are must-win, while it also needs help to make the playoffs.

"Well, our playoff hopes are slim now," Soehn said. "We've dug ourselves a major hole. Now we're looking at everybody else, but in the end we still have to look at ourselves and find a way to pick ourselves out again. But it's slim chances now. That's the reality."

United will be without midfielder Ben Olsen and attacker Chris Pontius because of suspensions, and forwards Santino Quaranta and Ange N'Silu, defenders Bryan Namoff and Greg Janicki, midfielder Brandon Barklage, and goalkeeper Josh Wicks because of injuries.

The Crew will be without attacker Emmanuel Ekpo because of suspension, and backup goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum and defender Chad Marshall because of injury.



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