The Carolina RailHawks are far from struggling, but the team is looking for some backfield answers as they return home this Saturday to play host to FC Edmonton.

The RailHawks are still 12 points clear of the next-best team in the North American Soccer League. So the upcoming match isn't a must-win.

But it will be a chance for the team to prove it can still be as dominant as it was early in the season.

Halfway through the 28-game league schedule, the RailHawks transferred their best defender and team captain Brad Rusin to a professional team in Denmark. Then the RailHawks had back-to-back games at Minnesota and Edmonton.

In the two-game road trip, Carolina was outscored 2-1 by its opponents - including being shut out for the first time all year - and took home just one of a possible six points.

Before Rusin's transfer, the team had collected 37 of a possible 43 points and had not gone back-to-back games without a win.

Coach Martin Rennie isn't worried about his team, but getting back to those winning habits would be appreciated.

No tweaks up top

Also looking to get back on the right foot is forward Etienne Barbara.

Barbara, who is still atop the NASL leader board in goals and assists, hasn't scored or had an assist in his last three contests.

Rennie said he does not plan to tinker much with his lineup before Saturday's game, but he will have to find someone to play center-back on the defense.

Rusin's transfer left the team thin at the position, especially with John Krause's penchant for serving suspensions for cards.

In his first game back after sitting out a game for accruing his fifth yellow card of the year, Krause got two more yellows against Edmonton and was sent off. The ejection is an automatic one-game suspension, meaning he is unavailable for Saturday.