Match Preview: RSL hoping to capitalize on struggling Galaxy defense

Real Salt Lake faces a bruised LA Galaxy side at Rio Tinto tonight in a bid to gain some sort of revenge for the last time these sides met -- a match which saw RSL lose 2-0 at home.

RSL heads into the match without a handful of players: Alvaro Saborio is away with Costa Rica, Luis Gil just departed for the U-20 World Cup, Abdoulie Mansally is off with the Gambian national setup, and Chris Schuler is out with injury.

The Galaxy will be without Irish striker Robbie Keane and American defender Omar Gonzalez, both on international duty, while US standout Landon Donovan is with LA after a notable snub by Jurgen Klinsmann.

One of Carlos Salcedo and Kwame Watson-Siriboe will likely start alongside Nat Borchers; both will likely start on Wednesday in the US Open Cup. Luis Gil's absence means Khari Stephenson or Sebastian Velasquez is in line for a start. Stephenson's good performance last weekend could put him in line for anther start, while Velasquez has proved a dangerous player throughout the season.

Alvaro Saborio's absence could see a recurrence of the Plata-Findley partnership that proved fruitful against San Jose, but the return to fitness of Olmes Garcia might tempt Jason Kreis into a change. Consistency may, of course, win out.

Regardless, revenge will be on the mind of RSL, and response will be at the forefront of Bruce Arena's LA squad. Some defensive attention and an eagerness to win the ball in the midfield should be high priorities for Kreis's side.