Timbers-Rapids Preview

In their most recent home game, the Colorado Rapids ended a league-record drought. In their next one, they'll try to take a step toward moving out of last place in the Western Conference.

The Rapids will seek to remain unbeaten on their own field against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.

Colorado (2-3-7) snapped an MLS-worst 11-game home winless streak (0-6-5) with a 1-0 victory against Vancouver last Saturday but remained in the West's cellar following a 1-0 loss to Seattle on Wednesday.

Their first defeat in six road games kept the Rapids three points behind Portland (4-5-4) and Houston.

"We've got to take care of business at home and hopefully string together a couple of victories. That is where are focus will shift to now," defender Bobby Burling said.

Colorado is 4-0-2 all-time at home versus the Timbers, outscoring them 15-5, but is 1-3-2 in the last six overall matchups after going 1-1-1 last season.

The Timbers head into this one having dropped their past two road games and four of six outside Portland, but they are coming off a 1-0 victory against East-leading D.C. United on Wednesday. Portland limited D.C. to two shots on goal and rode Maximiliano Urruti's fifth-minute goal to the win.

"It's huge. I think a lot of people were talking about when our next win was coming and we stayed positive," defender Liam Ridgewell said. "Tonight, we showed what we're really about being on the front foot and ... hopefully we'll continue that on Saturday."

Timbers captain Will Johnson played 84 minutes in his return from a broken right leg, his first action in 13 games, but coach Caleb Porter said he might rest the midfielder Saturday because of the short turnaround.

"At the end of the game his leg was a little sore so we had to get him out, but we are still going to go through that here for the next several weeks," Porter said. "Hopefully he recovers well and continues to be available for us next week."

Diego Valeri might sit out again because of an ankle injury suffered in a 1-0 loss at Toronto last Saturday. Valeri, who set single-season team records with 11 goals and 14 assists in 2014, has been limited to four games this season due to his recovery from a torn left ACL.

Diego Chara will miss this game after receiving his fifth yellow card of the campaign Wednesday.