Frank Lampard is ready for the LA Galaxy showdown vs. Cole and Gerrard

New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard is eager to get on the pitch for Saturday's MLS battle against the LA Galaxy, mainly because he will go up against familiar faces like Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane.

The former Chelsea and England man revealed that he looked at the MLS calendar at the start of the season and penciled in the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls matches, as the ones he takes special interest in.

"I looked at it very early," Lampard told MLS.com.

"I'm going to try and see Ash and Stevie at the hotel. I've got a couple of Chelsea friends over from London as well for the game,

"We might go and see them if I have the chance. But we're focused. We're friends, but in the build-up to games I like to keep my head down and Ashley is the same. If they stay over after the game then maybe we'll share a dinner or a beer afterwards."

Lampard kept special praise for ex-teammate Cole, along with Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, whom he feels is one of the best tacticians in the MLS, but has warned that he is in it to win it.

"We're very close knit, all of us," Lampard added. "It will be a pleasure again to play against Ashley. I played against and with him before. For me, the best left-back England has ever produced and the best left-back in the world for a quite a consistent period.

"I think he's [Arena] a world-class coach, not just for MLS,

"I think he's fantastically knowledgeable in the game and good with his players and he's produced team after team. Even when a team changes a lot of players, he still manages to have a team that challenges."

"I think it [this game] carries a bit more and good. I'm sure it does for both teams,

"We're big franchises, both of us, big players, there will maybe extra media attention and a big crowd on the day. The basic is three points for both of us, we're both fighting in different conferences. Of course there's pride between players and when you're playing against another big franchise you want to win."

Having succumbed to a 5-1 defeat to the Galaxy last August, Lampard is confident that his team will put on a better showing, as they aim to justify their tag as one of the MLS Cup's title contenders.

"We know last year was a very disappointing result there and we want to cast ourselves as a team that's going to challenge," Lampard said. "It's very important that we try and put that right and show the form we've been showing this season and particularly the last couple of months."