Alan McCann won’t whine about the circumstances surrounding the contest. 

On Wednesday, the Switchbacks travel to USL League One’s Spokane Velocity FC for a quarterfinal match in the Prinx Tires USL Cup. The 7 p.m. contest comes mere days after the Switchbacks were on the other side of the country and suffered a 2-0 loss in Rhode Island. 

In addition to a fast turnaround for Colorado Springs, Spokane will have fresh legs as the club’s Aug. 8 contest with the New York Cosmos was delayed due to travel disruptions from severe weather. The Spokane area has been devastated by recent wildfires, which will only add to the club’s resolve on Wednesday. 

McCann’s response is essentially, bring it on. 

“There are pieces that every USL will come up against a schedule congestion at one part. Look at what Orange County had to go through. I think it was 11 away games because the (U.S. Men’s National Team) had their ground and they came through it,” McCann said. “So it’s another test that we just have to come through. It’ll take character, it’ll take resolve and it’ll take quality but that’s what’s going to be needed.”

Not all the Switchbacks made the trip to Rhode Island. McCann restricted some from travel this past weekend for fewer minutes and to help recover from injury.  

Wednesday marks the second time these teams will meet this season as Spokane and Colorado Springs battled to penalties back in April at Weidner Field as part of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Switchbacks prevailed thanks to two saves from keeper Christian Herrera during the shootout. 

Since then, both Colorado Springs and Spokane won their respective groups in the group stage of the Prinx Tires USL Cup featuring all teams from USL Championship and League One. The winner of the match will advance to the semifinals on Sept. 9.

Wednesday’s contest isn’t part of the USL Championship regular-season slate but it’s a prime opportunity for the Switchbacks to bounce back following a pair of consecutive road losses in the USL Championship regular season. 

But redemption won’t come easy and McCann would have it no other way. 

“They’ll be representing League One. They’ll be representing their city that’s going through a tough time and they’ll absolutely have the incentive of knocking off a USL Championship team, that added carrot,” McCann said. “I think they’re an all-around very very good club with good support. So brilliant. Let’s go swing for swing. We go into those environments consistently.”