When Chivas USA line up against FC Dallas on Thursday, it will be yet another match the Red-and-White will play against a possible playoff opponent.
Chivas USA enters Thursday's match at Pizza Hut Park (9 p.m. ET; ESPN2) atop the Western Conference table with a 15-6-6 record. With 51 points in hand, Chivas USA hold a three-point edge ahead of Houston.
FC Dallas, meanwhile, sit in third place in the west with a 13-11-4 mark. Should Houston overtake Chivas USA and finish in first place, Chivas USA and FC Dallas would meet in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
On Sept. 29, Chivas USA played the team that currently sits in the eighth and final playoff spot as the Red-and-White played host to Chicago. Thursday's game will give a similar feel to that match for Chivas USA and will be a potential playoff pairing.
"We thought about that with Chicago where we were thinking that if everything goes as planned, we could be playing Chicago in the first round," Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein said. "It definitely felt like that kind of game and we're definitely approaching this Dallas game the same way."
With the bottom of the table still unsettled, Chivas USA's first-round opponent can be seemingly most of the clubs sitting in a playoff spot or battling to get in. Chicago, who held Chivas USA to a 1-1 tie, is actually in fifth place in the Eastern Conference but sits in the fourth spot in the West with the new playoff scheme that will take the top eight teams in the overall standings.
A week before tying Chicago, Chivas USA beat Kansas City by 2-1 at The Home Depot Center in yet another playoff preview. The Wizards could fall into the final playoff position with a loss at New York combined with a Chicago victory at D.C. United.
On Sunday, Chivas USA will turn around and play host to Colorado, yet another team battling for its postseason lives.
However, for one day at least, that possible first-round opponent will be FC Dallas.
"You've got to think if we're playing them in the playoffs this is a little test before we actually get there," Bornstein said. "At the same time though you need to be smart and if guys are feeling a little fatigued, you don't want to push them like it is a playoff game because it isn't. Definitely treat it as it could be."
One part of Chivas USA's team that might come into question during the playoffs is depth. A year ago, the club's depth was glaring when forward Ante Razov was unable to play in the return leg against Houston because of injury and the club struggled without him.
Depth is far better this season, but some of the players from which to play are lacking in experience as well as in age.
"We are very inexperienced. We are young. We have a couple older players who know what the playoffs mean and how important those games are," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "Nevertheless, we are hoping that these young players got a lot of experience throughout the league in some of these hard games and they understand what the mentality means to be going into the playoffs. We've been doing a pretty good job of keeping that mentality and competing on a daily basis and that translates into games."
While FC Dallas is essentially locked into a playoff series against rivals Houston, Chivas USA can still finish atop the Western Conference and fight for the Supporters' Shield as well.
"If you look at the rankings right now, I think we're only three points behind D.C. for first place in the whole league and we're a game behind," Bornstein said. "If we were to win every game from here on out, the worst we could do would be to tie for the Supporters' Shield which would be a great accomplishment for us and I think we can't overlook that."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
