The long schedule may already be catching up with Real Salt Lake.
Goalkeeper Nick Rimando is listed as questionable for this weekend with a bone spur in his ankle, which may press back-up Kyle Reynish into the starting lineup for the claret-and-cobalt against the Los Angeles Galaxy. In addition to Rimando, Jaimson Olave is also questionable for the match after suffering a hamstring injury against Deportivo Saprissa in CONCACAF Champions League play. Following Saturday's match the club will travel to Costa Rica ahead of its semifinal second leg with Saprissa.
RSL also announced on Thursday that the club will be retiring the No. 9 jersey worn by head coach Jason Kreis. He was the first player to join the club and scored his 100th career goal with the team in addition to leading the club to the 2009 MLS Cup as a coach. The jersey will be retired on July 4 when RSL hosts the New England Revoultion.
More news from around the Western Conference is after the jump:
CHIVAS USA
The Rojiblancos are looking to get back on the right foot after a disappointing loss to Sporting Kansas City last week, but will attempt to do so with a severely depleted back line. Michael Umana (Costa Rica), Andrew Boyens (New Zealand), and Zarek Valentin (U.S. U-20s) will each be absent on Saturday when the club hosts the Colorado Rapids.
Chivas USA also loaned forward Chukwudi Chijindu to USL-PRO side L.A. Blues on Wednesday.
COLORADO RAPIDS
Irishman Danny Earls has joined the Rapids training camp after being released by the Seattle Sounders at the end of preseason. Earls was traded along with Julian Baudet by Colorado to Seattle at the end of the 2010 season.
FC DALLAS
FCD fell in its first-leg match with partner club Tigres UNAL, 2-1. The match took place at the Estadio Universario in Monterrey and featured a youth-laden line up for both clubs. Dallas will host Tigres in the decisive match for the Rio Grande Plate in September.
L.A. GALAXY
With Landon Donovan playing with the U.S. team on Saturday, midfielder David Beckham will wear the captain's armband on Saturday when the Galaxy travel to Rio Tinto to face Real Salt Lake. When asked about the honor on Thursday, Beckham stated "Bruce has asked me to wear it, and I'll be proud to wear it."
It appears likely that Josh Saunders will make his third consecutive start in net with Donovan Ricketts still not training with the first team as of Thursday. Defender Omar Gonzalez trained with the full squad on Thursday, but he is still listed as probable for Saturday.
PORTLAND TIMBERS
The buzz for the Timbers is at an all time high in Portland and its showing at the box office. The Timbers announced that five regular season home matches are already essentially sold out except for ostructed-view seats. Matches against the Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps are basically sold out while the home opener against the Chicago Fire is fully sold out.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The Earthquakes will be without Jamaican midfielder Khari Stephenson, who was called up to the Jamaica squad this weekend. His absence could open up a larger role for new pick up Simon Dawkins in the Quakes' match against FC Dallas.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
News hasn't been good for the 0-2 Sounders, but the club is looking to welcome a number of key players back to the line up. Steve Zakuani, Nate Jaqua, Mike Seamon and Brad Evans have resumed full training and look to find some playing time on Friday's match against the Houston Dynamo.
After being released from the team hours before the season opener, former DP Blaise Nfuko is set to retire, according to reports from Holland.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Another team that is depleted due to the international fixture dates is Vancouver. With both centerback starters from the victory over Toronto, Jay DeMerit (USA) and Michael Boxall (New Zealand), unavailable for selection the Whitecaps are looking to Bilal Duckett, a rookie from Notre Dame, to start in central defense.
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