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Galaxy-Whitecaps FC Preview

Hoping to heal up during a week off, the Los Angeles Galaxy instead return further short-handed.

The Galaxy will be without both Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard as they enter an expectedly energized BC Place for Saturday night's match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Keane had planned to participate in a pair of friendlies for Ireland during the Galaxy's bye week but instead underwent surgery to correct a lingering right knee issue. The 35-year-old captain will miss 4 to 6 weeks while recovering, leaving Los Angeles (2-1-0) without its most dangerous and proven scorer, and him potentially missing this summer's European Championship in France.

Keane, third in MLS with 20 goals last season, had one in a 3-1 victory over San Jose on March 19, helping the Galaxy withstand Gerrard's early exit with a strained left calf that will also keep the former Liverpool star out of Saturday's match.

The injuries will test the depth of the league's oldest club as it seeks to end a six-game road losing streak (0-5-1) including last year's playoffs.

"Obviously I'm concerned about it, but I'm also looking forward to seeing some of the other guys get on the field and help us," coach Bruce Arena said. "When we travel to Vancouver, we are going to have a number of changes in the lineup and that's good to see where we're at with some of those players."

Los Angeles still possesses plenty of firepower without Keane, especially if Giovani Dos Santos can return from a leg injury that's sidelined its other designated player for two games. Gyasi Zardes registered a brace against the Earthquakes, though it came with San Jose down a man in the second half, while Mike Magee had two goals and an assist subbing for Dos Santos in the season-opening win over D.C. United on March 6.

The Galaxy were shut out in two 2015 matchups with Vancouver, however, including a 2-0 defeat at BC Place last April in which the Whitecaps owned an 18-6 shot advantage.

Vancouver (2-2-0), which won just once in 12 meetings with the Galaxy prior to last season, should have additional confidence after winning two straight following its 0-2-0 start. The Whitecaps earned last Saturday's 1-0 victory over Houston with four key players absent due to international call-ups.

The Whitecaps are still looking for their first goal in a non-deadball situation. Pedro Morales has scored the club's last four on penalty kicks, and Vancouver scored on a corner kick and free kick in its season-opening loss to Montreal.

"We're creating chances, which is good," coach Carl Robinson said. "I know people will say we still haven't scored a goal from open play, but it wasn't about that (last week). It was about getting three points on the board."

Octavio Rivero, Kekuta Manneh and Cristian Techera, the Whitecaps' top three scorers from last season, all have yet to score. Manneh had a goal in each of last year's two wins over Los Angeles.

The Whitecaps should gain an edge from the home crowd, with the club announcing Tuesday that its seating for Saturday's match will be expanded to the full lower bowl.

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