MONTREAL – If the Montreal Impact took it as a challenge to win in the early part of the Major League Soccer season without star striker Didier Drogba, then so far they’ve done just fine.

Designated player Ignacio Piatta looked like a man on mission with two goals and an assist as the Impact opened the campaign with a 3-2 victory last week in Vancouver, their first regular season away win against a Canadian team since they joined MLS in 2012.

But riding that to another victory against the wounded New York Red Bulls in their home opener on Saturday at Olympic Stadium may be even tougher.

The Red Bulls, the league’s best team in the regular season in 2015, should be in a surly mood after dropping their home opener 2-0 to Toronto FC despite controlling most of the play.

“They had a tough match against Toronto and we expect a team that will come in looking to push us to try to get the three points,” coach Mauro Biello said this week. “We have to be ready for that and play well defensively.”

Drogba, who scored 11 goals in 11 regular season games after joining the Impact late last season, will sit out four of the first five games because they are on artificial turf, which causes his 37-year-old knees to swell.

He is to make his 2016 debut next week on a grass field in Dallas, but then will sit out two more, including a match on synthetic grass at the Big O on April 9 against Chicago. He will join the team when they move full time back to grass at Saputo Stadium April 23 against TFC.

Without Drogba’s huge presence in front of goal, Piatti put on a dribbling exhibition to score twice and set one up for speedy forward Dominic Oduro.

“To win any away game is difficult,” said Biello. “It confirms the work we’ve done in pre-season and it adds that bit of confidence going forward, but we still need to work on a lot of things.

“Yes, we still need to grow as a team. Yes, we’re still waiting for Didier to come and make this team better. It’s about coming back home in front of our fans and confirming that good performance with another one.”

The Impact hope to at least fill the lower bowl, which would put more than 30,000 in the 55,000-seat dome. The big bell that is rung when they score was hauled over from Saputo Stadium for the occasion in hope that the Drogba-less goals keep coming.

The Red Bulls have been tough on Montreal, going 6-2-2 since the Impact joined MLS in 2012 and outscoring them 23-14.

New York is without its central defence pair from last season, with Matt Miazga sold to Chelsea and Damien Perrinelle out with a torn knee ligament, but newcomer Gideon Baah was solid in that spot last week alongside Ronald Zubar. They are also missing DP Gonzalo Veron to a hamstring problem.

But they still have a dangerous strike threat in Bradley Wright-Phillips and a high-paced midfield led by Lloyd Sam, Sacha Kljestan, Dax McCarthy and ex-Impact Felipe Martins.

“They have a great offensive line and high pressure and if you make a mistake, they’ll punish you,” said Impact fullback Donny Toia. “We’ll have to play quick and smart.”

For Montreal, it will be a first home game for new signing Lucas Ontivero and recently acquired midfielder Harry Shipp.

Holding midfielder Marco Donadel is a question mark with a sore leg and may cede his spot to Calum Mallace.