Going up against a familiar face in any sporting event is never an easy task.

For the core group of returning Orlando City players, Saturday night will feature a match up against three of their former colleagues when City faces OKC Energy FC in its first ever home-opener at Pribil Stadium.

After helping the Lions claim their second USL PRO title in 2013, Sporting Kansas City players Christian Duke, Jon Kempin and Kevin Ellis have made a return back to the minor leagues; this time joining OKC as part of the affiliation with Sporting.

Duke and Kempin were amongst the original loanee group that included Dom Dwyer and Yann Songo’o and played an integral role in the Lions’ championship winning season. Ellis, on the other hand, joined City later in the season but still managed to play a key role as well.

“We had them here all of last year, and because of the exploits of Dom (Dwyer), their contributions were a bit overlooked,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “They were really popular guys within our group.”

The Lions are coming off a comfortable win over the FC Dallas Reserves but remain humble heading into this weekend’s fixture, as the defending 2013 USL PRO champs are aware that OKC will prove to be a difficult test.

“I know that they’re going to be very competitive and they’ve had a decent start [to the season],” OCSC Head Coach Adrian Heath said. “It’s their first home game. They’re going to be full of enthusiasm with the reigning champions coming in.”

The Energy (2-2-0, 6 points) has gotten off to a decent start in their inaugural USL PRO campaign, capturing a 4-0 victory over Arizona United SC along with a 2-0 win over the Orange County Blues.

For the City players, the opportunity to secure three points on the road against a side with players that used to dawn the purple and white stokes the fire a bit more.

“They’re our friends off the field, but once we play them on the field we’re trying to get a win and so are they,” said Goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. “We kind of have to leave that friendship on the side so we can do the best thing for our club.”

After practicing every day in training during last year’s campaign with Kempin, Gallardo will not have too much interaction with the U21 U.S. International during the match, due to the fact that they two ‘keepers will be nearly 120 yards apart. However, during set pieces and corners Gallardo plans to have a few words to say to Duke.

“I’ll definitely have a little talk with him [Duke] when there’s a corner kick or something,” Gallardo said with a chuckle. “They’re both great players and they seem to be doing really well in OKC. I think it’s going to be a really good match.”

Much like Gallardo, Forward Dennis Chin would regularly go up against Kempin during training sessions but notes being familiar with a certain goalkeeper does not necessarily give a striker any sort of an advantage.

“You have to play what you see,” Chin said. “If you see a corner open, you just aim for that corner. Kempin is a great young goalkeeper that’s looking to prove himself. I know it’s going to be a good challenge to score against him, but it’s a challenge I’m willing to accept.”

The gaffer will also see familiar faces inside the opposing coach’s box.

Heath knows both OKC Head Coach Jimmy Nielsen, who is in his first year in a coaching role after retiring as a player with SKC, as well assistant coach Chris Spendlove who Heath knows from his playing days with the PDL side Austin Aztex.

“Knowing the two of them, I think they’ll be really organized and ready to compete,” Heath added. “I expect it to be what it is. It’s going to be a difficult night for us, but it’ll be good to catch up with some old friends.”