After opening its final season in USL PRO with back-to-back draws, Orlando City SC is currently riding the club’s regular season winning streak record of five consecutive victories heading into this weekend’s road trip against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Rochester Rhinos.

The Lions have already faced both sides this season, drawing Pittsburgh 1-1 in the second match of the season before defeating Rochester 3-1 in convincing fashion not too long afterwards.

But this weekend will prove to be a difficult challenge for Head Coach Adrian Heath and his squad as they will have to play on ensuing nights when they take on Pittsburgh on Friday prior to traveling for five hours overnight to face Rochester on Saturday evening.

“It’s difficult. It’s one of the things I won’t be glad to see the back of,” said Heath. “I don’t think it’s right that players are supposed to travel for five hours between games and then have to play back-to-back, but it is what is and we have to get through it.”

The gaffer will have the task of carefully managing the minutes each member of his squad plays and suggested that it would be impossible for everyone to play a full ninety in both games.

“Situations like this weekend are why we need a deep squad, “Heath continued. “We’ve got over 20 players and I would think everyone would be involved this weekend. Fortunately, it looks like Rob Valentino will be back and that’s another body. We’re doubled up in every position, so it’s just a case of managing the minutes properly.”

Playing on back-to-back nights simply comes with the territory of playing in the USL PRO and for the veteran players like Miguel Gallardo, Luke Boden, Rob Valentino, Kevin Molino, and Dennis Chin; it’s something they’ve grown accustomed to over the years.

“We have a lot of guys that have experience in this league,” Gallardo said. “We know that’s how the league is and we’re prepared for it. We have some guys that haven’t gotten a lot of playing time and those guys will be eager and hungry to make a good impression on coach this weekend.”

If City continues its club record winning streak this weekend, every player on the roster will have to contribute to keep the streak alive during a dreadful and tiring month of May that has eight games on the schedule.

“I think we’re a bunch of individuals that aren’t satisfied with winning one game,” Gallardo added. “We always want to learn. We always want to get better and strive for more. I think that’s one of the attitudes that describes this team, we want to get better regardless of the opposition. I don’t think we’ve reached our full potential yet, but I think we’re close to it.”