Los Angeles (7-10-8) at Chicago (11-9-5), 9 p.m.

Bridgeview, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy are two Major League Soccer squads that have big hopes for the upcoming MLS Cup playoffs, but need to take care of business over their last five games of the regular season to get there. That starts with Thursday night's inter- conference match-up between the two sides at Toyota Park.

The Fire (11-9-5) currently hold the third and final guaranteed playoff spot in the East, but are only three points clear of New York while L.A. (7-10-8) is sixth in the West, but only two points out of a share of the third spot.

Chicago has actually lost three of four since beating the Galaxy 1-0 at The Home Depot Center on Aug. 21, including two embarrassing losses in a row - 2-0 at Colorado and, most recently, 4-1 at home vs. FC Dallas.

"The last two opponents we've played have shown they're playing with their backs against the wall, fighting to get into the playoffs," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "We've sort of taken our foot off of the gas. We're not in the playoffs yet. If we continue to play like this, we won't be in the playoffs."

"[Against FC Dallas], plain and simple, we got our butt kicked," Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch said. "We didn't play well. We had no desire or heart. They wanted it more.

"It's time for the men to step up and the boys to sit on the porch. We're supposed to get results. That's our job. Now we're in a dogfight."

The Galaxy are coming off an impressive 5-2 win over an injury depleted D.C. United squad. The win snapped a 12-game losing streak, and L.A. will look to take the momentum from that decisive win into Toyota Park.

"It feels good. It's been a while," Galaxy forward Landon Donovan said of breaking the losing streak. "You get to the point where you don't even look at other scores or standings because it's just depressing. It's nice to finally move a little, but we're still a long ways away and we realize that."

Donovan was the hero of the game, scoring three goals to raise his league- leading total to 19, while also chipping in an assist.

"I've seen that a few times with Landon," Galaxy midfielder David Beckham said. "When he plays like that, no one can stop him. He's a goal scorer and he's done that throughout his career. We're lucky to have a player like that on the team because, like I said, when he runs at players or when he runs off the ball, no one can get near him because he's too quick. And he's a great finisher of the ball, and he showed that [vs. D.C.]. And it's something that we needed. You need certain players to perform in games, especially when you are going through tough times, and Landon did that."

After Thursday's contest the Fire alternate with two home games and two road games left, all against Eastern Conference opponents while the Galaxy do the same, starting with a fixture at league-leading Columbus and finishing up against three Western Conference foes.