Borchers illness, squad injuries throw uncertainty into mix ahead of Revs match

A handful of RSL players could miss today's match at New England Revolution as injuries and illness take their toll on the squad.

Nat Borchers is set to miss out through illness, which is surely a blow to the defense. Kwame Watson-Siriboe was absent Saturday after the birth of his first child; he may be available for the match, but his involvement is surely in doubt. Should Watson-Siriboe miss out, Carlos Salcedo could get his first start only days after being handed his debut. Chris Wingert could always move centrally if necessary.

Alvaro Saborio remains out for the match and will be for some time; Robbie Findley and Olmes Garcia both remain doubtful after missing out this weekend. That could leave Joao Plata and Devon Sandoval in a position to start again after Saturday, which would at least inject some continuity into a forward line hit hard by injuries in 2013.

The midfield remains relatively unscathed, but with this the first of three matches in a relatively cluttered set, some rotation could take place — though there's not any room to rotate in other positions, the midfield might utilize the opportunity. Still, with the defense a bit hit by Borchers' absence, protecting from the midfield will be essential.

It would be reasonable, though, to expect an unchanged lineup in the midfield: Javier Morales at the top, Kyle Beckerman at the back, and Ned Grabavoy and Luis Gil on the left and right, respectively.

How exactly RSL copes with the absence of Borchers will be interesting to watch unfold. Watson-Siriboe and Chris Schuler have, at times in 2012, formed a reasonable partnership. Salcedo and Schuler may be a more unproven combination, but it may be the best combination from a tactical and physical perspective, with Salcedo pushing further forward and carrying the ball out of defense, and Schuler sitting slightly further back, picking off passes and stepping when necessary.