FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The most settled team in the league will have to shake things up this weekend.
With three starters off at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the New England Revolution will have to shuffle the deck and introduce replacements for U.S. national team players Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston, and Michael Parkhurst in time for Saturday's contest with Columbus.
"We're a good, strong, close-knit team," Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis said. "Our guys have a chance to show that they are good players. Of course, you'll lose some continuity without those guys. It'll be a challenge."
The replacements are not foreign faces, but merely players who will be called upon more frequently with the national team absences.
James Riley, who had been playing left back, will shift into the middle, granting Avery John a recall at left back. Adam Cristman will take Twellman's place on the forward line alongside Pat Noonan.
Wells Thompson will come in for Steve Ralston on the right wing, and he could draw the biggest benefit from his new role, according to Cristman.
"Coming on as a substitute, it's tough to pick up the pace of the game," Cristman said. "He can set his own pace now. I think it will help Wells."
Revolution head coach Steve Nicol might have to make a late change to his lineup, as Shalrie Joseph sat out two days of training this week with a groin strain and is listed as questionable. Daniel Hernandez is on standby if Joseph is unable to play.
Joe Franchino has a sprained right ankle, but could be available off the bench.
New England is coming off a bye week that appeared at a particularly useful time. With three players off with the U.S. national team and a hectic schedule in the opening stages of the season, the Revolution were able to draw their breath and refocus over the past week.
"Mentally, we could do something different," Cristman said. "It's a long season with a lot of games. It helps to get a change of scenery. It feels like I haven't played for a while. That's a good feeling."
Reis wants to recapture that good feeling on the field. After accumulating 17 points in its first eight matches (including 11 points in six road contests), New England has gained only one point from its previous two home contests prior to the week off.
"It's important for us," Reis said. "We have quite a few people out there in different positions. It's important for us to do well."
Success is expected against Columbus, which sits in the basement of the Eastern Conference after picking up a sole win in 10 league contests this season.
Reis spent time under the watchful eye of Crew head coach Sigi Schmid at UCLA and the Los Angeles Galaxy and believes that Columbus will be able to pose some problems for the Revs.
"They'll be well organized," Reis said. "They will execute. They'll know what we're about. They'll have an eagerness to win. The guys will want to show they deserve to be in the starting 11 with the transfer window opening up."
Injuries have played a key role in the Crew's struggles over the past two seasons, according to Reis.
"I think last season, they had a lot of injuries," Reis said. "This season, it's more of the same. If you don't have your starters, it makes things difficult. They aren't giving away goals, but they aren't scoring either. But that could change in a second."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
