The 2024 Leagues Cup continues for Toronto FC on Thursday night when they hit the road for a Round of 32 clash with Inter Miami CF at Chase Stadium.

Not only is it a chance to square off against the defending champions of the competition, it is a rematch of sorts as well.

Toronto have been on a good run, taking results from four of their last five matches – wins over the Philadelphia Union, CF Montréal, and CF Pachuca; a shootout victory over the New York Red Bulls – the only mark on that record came on July 17 with a 3-1 loss at Miami.

“Everyone was excited to go back to Miami,” said John Herdman on Wednesday. “We were really competitive in that game – there was a 15-minute window [where] we let some soft goals in.”

“A team we've just played, so we know,” he continued. “We enjoyed playing in that environment.”

TFC were on the front foot for large stretches of that match, the first time since the opening game of the season that Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, Jonathan Osorio, and Richie Laryea were all on the pitch together.

They felt like they deserved more from it.

“We had chances,” said Matty Longstaff. “Looking back, the first half, to come in 1-0 down wasn't justice. We should have probably been leading, if not drawing the game at a minimum.”

“Lots of positives to take,” he continued. “Defensively we were really good, we limited them, especially in the first half. They didn't have a chance until the goal was scored just before the break.”

Toronto have allowed just one goal in the three matches since.

The increased depth from being relatively healthy is one factor, but so too has a redoubling of the focus on being hard to play against defensively, including a shift of formation when the opponent has possession.

“The depth is helping us,” credited Herdman. “The starting group, there is more chemistry building – you've seen that against Pachuca, some really good passages of play, more cohesive for longer periods – but I also feel like we're finishing strong as well.”

“Against Philadelphia we were able to bring Lorenzo and Deybi [Flores] off the bench and then this game, Kobe Franklin, Jahkeele [Marshall-Rutty], Deybi, Prince Owusu, that's a pretty strong impact.”

More depth means more competition; more competition pushes the levels higher.

“The more players you have fit, the more fighting there is to start and then come off the bench,” explained Longstaff. “More competition is a good thing and now we've got a lot of it in the squad.”

“You see the level: the lads who start have performed well and coming off the bench, look at Pachuca we have Jahkeele and Kobe who come on and link up for the goal,” he highlighted. “As a player, when you know you’ve got that on the bench, [players] who can come on and change the game, there's lots of confidence going in.”

On the ball, Toronto looks similar to how they have all season, but off the ball changes have made them more solid.

“We shifted to a back four, which brought our lines tighter together,” outlined Herdman. “The balance has been helpful to us. The last three matches, we hadn't conceded a shot on target until like 56, 57 minutes and we've kept xGs to the lowest for those teams.”

“There's been some really good work in that structure, but when you come up against Miami, the quality is just different,” he cautioned. “When you're playing against [Luis] Suárez, [Federico] Redondo. [Jordi] Alba, [Sergio] Busquets with the passes he can make. Pachuca were tough, but Miami are going to be a different level.”

There is one name left off that list: Lionel Messi. the Argentine legend is questionable for Thursday, still recovering from an ankle injury.

On one hand TFC will be glad not to see him, on the other it would be nice to test the mettle.

“For the excitement of the game,” lamented Herdman. “He's certainly a player that every player wants to play against and have that experience from a competitive point of view. Anytime Messi is not on the pitch, it's something less you've got to think about.”

“For us, if he doesn't play, we'll be happy,” he continued. “It's going to be enough with Busquets, Suarez, and Alba. When they're on the pitch together, they just have a real sort of telepathy, it's really nice to watch.”

Said Longstaff: “When he’s missing, Miami are still a top team, they’ve still got top players.”

“He's probably the best in the world ever to do it, it would be nice to play against him,” he added. “But we’ve got to concentrate on what we need to do.”

Miami finished second in their group, losing the decisive game 2-1 against Tigres UANL on Saturday. Tata Martino’s side is not only the defending champions, but also currently lead the Supporters’ Shield race in MLS.

“We know it's going to be a tough game,” underlined Longstaff. “It benefits us a little bit playing them recently because we know what they're about and how they set up.”

“The squad are really looking forward to it, looking forward to playing the champions of this competition,” he continued. “You want to play the best and you want to beat the best.”

Anticipated Herdman: “It'll be a good match. They will be at almost full strength with Busquets and Suárez back and we'll be close to full strength. This will be an exciting game.”

“The players know it’s cup football,” he continued. “It's not about going away and trying to get an away result. They'll have their home fans, but we actually enjoyed it last time. The lads really enjoyed playing in Miami. We know about them, we know how they want to play, and we’ve just got to give it our all because it's win and go through or lose and you’re out.”

It’s all to play for: a spot in the Round of 16 awaits the winner.

“In cup football,” Herdman closed. “You've just got to find a way to win.”