Galaxy-Whitecaps preview

The Los Angeles Galaxy will try to remain unbeaten at home and improve its playoff position when they plays host to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

Los Angeles (9-4-12) is fourth in Major League Soccer's Western Conference with 39 points, just one point behind third-place Real Salt Lake and six points behind first-place FC Dallas. The Galaxy, which is 6-0-6 at home this season, is 0-1-4 in its last five matches after playing the Chicago Fire to a 2-2 draw earlier this week.

Vancouver (8-12-6) is ninth in the Western Conference with 30 points. Despite their current standing in the west, the Whitecaps are just two points out of a playoff spot with eight games remaining.

The Whitecaps are coming off a resounding 3-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in a midweek CONCACAF Champions League contest. Christian Techera scored two goals. Erik Hurtado had one goal and one assist.

Vancouver will be without a key contributor after Christian Bolanos was suspended for the match against Los Angeles. The MLS Disciplinary Committee announced Wednesday that Bolanos will serve a one-game suspension and pay an undisclosed fine for violent conduct against Sporting KC. Bolanos, who has five goals and five assists in 22 appearances for the Whitecaps this season, clipped Sporting KC's Graham Zusi with his elbow in the 53rd minute of their MLS match last week.

Pedro Morales leads Vancouver with six goals and six assists. Bolanos is second on the team in both categories. Kekuta Manneh has five goals.

Los Angeles is led by Giovani dos Santos, who has nine goals and eight assists this season. Robbie Keane is second on the team with seven goals. Steven Gerrard leads the team with 11 assists.

"It's going to be a fight and we're all going to have to work really hard, just like we did a couple days ago (in the win over Sporting KC)," Vancouver's Russell Teibert said. "... We're going to have to do that down in LA if we want to get three points, which are crucial right now."