Whitecaps FC-Dynamo Preview

As the Vancouver Whitecaps bask in an unprecedented achievement, the Houston Dynamo are simply happy to be back home.

The Dynamo return to Houston for Saturday's clash against the surging Whitecaps having lost ground in the Western Conference playoff race following a 0-2-1 road trip. Houston (8-10-8), currently eighth in the West with 32 points, concluded the swing with Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Colorado.

An opportunity to climb back up the standings, however, exists. Six of the Dynamo's next eight games are at BBVA Compass Stadium, where they have outscored opponents 16-5 over a 6-0-1 stretch across all competitions and trailed for only 17 minutes in that span.

"It's always nice to go home. I think it's been 11 games we've had on the road out of the last 16, it's a lot,' forward Giles Barnes told MLS' official site. "To come out of that and have all those home games to look forward to is a positive."

The first of those games figures to be tough, however. Vancouver (14-9-3) has won four of five in league play and enters Saturday's match off its first Canadian Championship after Wednesday's 2-0 triumph over Montreal, which earned the Whitecaps a spot in next year's CONCACAF Champions League.

"We're trying to create something here at this club," coach Carl Robinson told the team's official website. "(Wednesday) we made a little bit of history, which is fantastic and hopefully it's the start of many (titles)."

The Whitecaps were coming off another emotional victory, a 1-0 decision over FC Dallas Aug. 22 that avenged last October's bitter playoff loss. Christian Techera notched the lone goal and has three in Vancouver's last three outings.

Vancouver is 5-1-1 in its last seven matches across all competitions, totaling 17 goals.

With his team owning a five-point lead for second in the West and playing its third game in eight days, Robinson may opt to rest some regulars in the expected steamy conditions. The Dynamo, meanwhile, should get two players back for Saturday's showdown.

Defenders Raul Rodriguez (hamstring) and Kofi Sarkodie (knee) are probable after each missed Wednesday's loss. Fellow backliner DaMarcus Beasley, out the past two with a calf strain, is questionable.

"Obviously it would be nice if we get one or two healthy bodies back," Dynamo coach Owen Coyle told MLS' official website.

This will be the sixth all-time meeting between the clubs and Vancouver's third visit to Houston. The home team has won all the previous matchups.