Timbers-Whitecaps FC Preview

Coming off back-to-back shutouts, the Vancouver Whitecaps enter their biggest early season showdown with momentum on their side.

The reigning back-to-back Cascadia Cup champions begin their defense against the Portland Timbers, who try to continue their domination in the series at BC Place on Saturday night.

Vancouver (2-1-0) returns home after pulling out 1-0 road victories over Chicago on March 14 and Orlando City SC last Saturday. Rookie Octavio Rivero provided all the offense in both victories, including a thrilling header in the 96th minute last weekend for his third goal in as many games.

"At the moment I feel very content," he told the league's official website. "I feel in a good rhythm. The most important thing is the team and that it's winning. It's nice because I'm feeling confident and the team has confidence in me."

David Ousted has also come up big with a combined five saves in the last two games, posting his fifth and sixth shutouts over eight contests dating to last season. He's rebounded nicely after a disappointing performance in Vancouver's season-opening 3-1 home loss to Toronto FC.

"If you put yourselves in the right places defensively, and you've got pace on the counter attack, then you're always going to be a counter-attacking team," coach Carl Robinson said. "As we continue to build here, I want to be a team that dominates possession, dominates tackles, dominates crosses, dominates shots. It's about finding solutions to the problems that you have with each opponent that you face of getting the best way to win a game."

Vancouver hasn't been able to solve the Timbers, who are 6-1-4 in the all-time series after claiming 3-0 victories in the final two meetings last season. However, those were the Whitecaps' only losses in Cascadia Cup play as their 2-0-1 record versus Seattle helped them win the title.

Portland is 3-0-2 in Vancouver.

"With every game we've played against Portland it's a physical battle," Robinson said. "They're a very good team, they've got a very good manager. ... We expect a battle and we've got to deal with that physically and then we've also go to try and put our stamp on the game when we're in possession of the ball."

The Timbers (0-0-3) are unbeaten through three games for the first time after playing to another scoreless draw last Saturday at Sporting Kansas City. Portland, which also failed to score against Real Salt Lake in its season opener, recorded its only two goals March 15 against Los Angeles.

"I thought it was a good performance," coach Caleb Porter said after last weekend's tie. "Getting a point on the road here is a positive. We're unbeaten in three games against three very good teams."

The Timbers could get Alvas Powell back after his stint with the Jamaican national team, and they acquired Ghanaian winger Ishmael Yartey on loan with a transfer option from FC Sion of the Swiss Super League.

Vancouver, meanwhile, will be without defender Diego Rodriguez as he serves the first of a two-game suspension for his violent conduct toward an opponent last weekend. Kekuta Manneh was hit with a one-game suspension for serious foul play.

Mauro Rosales is expected to miss his second consecutive game with a sprained ankle, and Sam Adekugbe could also be out with a rib injury.

"We're down to the bare bones," Robinson said. "I've got a number of players missing, but I've got confidence in my group."