Toronto's Carl Robinson, centre, says the team needs to be more consistent during this crucial road swing. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

Road trips don't get any bigger than the one that is currently staring Toronto FC squarely in the face.

Toronto takes on Chivas USA Saturday night in Los Angeles in the opener of a crucial three-game road swing that could have major playoff implications for the Canadian club.

The Reds sport an 8-7-6 record this season, good enough for 30 points and third place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference. More importantly, Toronto finds itself in prime position to secure its first playoff berth since entering the league as an expansion franchise in 2007.

But six of Toronto's nine remaining games are on the road, which wouldn't be a problem except that the team has struggled mightily on its travels this season, with just two wins in nine contests away from the cozy confines of BMO Field.

With a host of teams clustered together in the standings jockeying for playoff spots (five other clubs in the league are either tied or within three points of Toronto) the Reds desperately need to pick up points on this make-or-break road swing.

The key to winning away from home, according to Toronto midfielder Carl Robinson, is for the team to concentrate and play for a full 90 minutes.

"We've got three massive away games now, and it's going to be a test for us because on the road we have picked up some points, but we need to be more consistent, and that's been our problem all year," Robinson told CBCSports.ca.

Toronto only has three home games left, and if it is to earn the 12 to 15 more points that coach Chris Cummins believes the team needs to get into the playoffs, it has to start winning on the road now.

It's going to be tough, but Cummins remains confident the club can get the job done.

"I'm not overly concerned about our away record, to be honest with you," Cummins said. "I think it's improving on last year. We still have more games left this year, so I think we're going to get more points than what we got last year."

Toronto will be missing captain Jim Brennan through suspension after the defender picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in last week's 2-0 home win over D.C. United.

On the positive side, defenders Marvell Wynne and Nick Garcia will be back after both missed the D.C. game because of injuries.

Suspensions and injuries forced Cummins to field a youthful lineup in last week's game that featured six players under the age of 23.

And while he lavished praise on his young players afterwards, Cummins said this week that striking a balance between youth and experience will guide his decision-making process when determining his starting lineup for Saturday.

"You need to have the right mix of youth and experience," the Toronto coach explained. "I'm not going to put 11 young lads out there because you do need experience.

"Going away from home is completely different to playing at home and I will take that into consideration when picking the team."

After Saturday's game against Chivas, Toronto visits the Seattle Sounders on Aug. 29 (CBC, CBCSports.ca 3:30 p.m. ET) before wrapping up their three-game road swing on Sept. 5 versus the Colorado Rapids.