It is early May, but this week is an opportunity for the fourth-place Colorado Springs Switchbacks to climb atop the Western Conference with road games against first-place LA Galaxy II and third-place Orange County over the next five days.

The Switchbacks (3-1) play at Los Angeles at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in a game that matches the two team’s strengths.

LA has the United Soccer League’s most-potent offense with 14 goals, paced by Jack McBean (six goals, one assist) and Ariel Lassiter (three goals). McBean is second in the USL in points behind Louisville’s Chandler Hoffman (14 points, seven goals).

Colorado Springs has allowed a league-low two goals (penalty kick, own goal) behind an improved defense that will be tested.

“At times they are a very direct team and we will have to keep track of forwards like McBean and Lassiter,” Colorado Springs coach Steve Trittschuh said. “Our defenders will be challenged up top.”

Los Angeles (3-0-4) has yet to lose a game this season and is fresh off a 2-0 road win over San Antonio that snapped a streak of four-straight ties after a 2-0 start. The Galaxy II, the 2015 USL runners-up, also have one of the league better goalkeepers in Frenchman Clement Diop (3-0-2, three shutouts, .786 saves percentage).

The Galaxy II could also get a boost from the addition of a first-team reserve or two since the Major League Soccer squad is idle midweek.

Sunday’s 5 p.m. opponent, the Orange County Blues (3-2-1), has reeled off three-straight victories after an 0-2-1 start, including an impressive road win at Sacramento.

The Blues, who won the Western Conference regular-season title in 2015, are led by Swiss national Didier Crettenand (two goals) and a goal apiece for Trevin Caesar, Brenton Griffiths and Pavle Popara. The Switchbacks will stay in California between games before returning to Colorado.

“Both teams are coming off road wins so we will need to go in there and play our game,” Trittschuh said. “Fortunately we tend to play better against the good teams.”

The Switchbacks are led by forward Martin Maybin (three goals, one assist), Mike Seth (one goal, one assist), Miguel Gonzalez (one goal) and Rony Argueta (two assists).

All Colorado Springs road games are live on gazette.com.