The 2012 MLS season is almost halfway gone, and entering this week, the Chicago Fire find themselves in solid playoff position in the MLS' Eastern Conference. The Fire are currently in fourth place with 24 points, which means that they would host a first round game in the 2012 playoffs.

In the MLS' new playoff structure, a conference's fourth place team will host the fifth place team for the right to play the first place team in the second round. The good news for the Fire is that they're closer to the third place team in the East than they are the fifth place team.

Here are the full East standings:

1. DC United, 30 points
2. Sporting Kansas City, 29 points
3. New York Red Bulls, 27 points
4. Chicago Fire, 24 points
5. Houston Dynamo, 20 points
6. Columbus Crew, 19 points
7. New England Revolution, 18 points
8. Montreal Impact, 18 points
9. Philadelphia Union, 11 points
10. Toronto FC, 5 points

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, visit Fire blog Hot Time In Old Town. For more news and notes from around the world of soccer, check out SB Nation's soccer hub.