Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear wants to add the Pan-Pacific Championship to his team's expanding trophy cabinet.
Houston has won the MLS Cup for the past two seasons and established itself as one of North America's leading teams, and Kinnear has identified the PPC as a perfect opportunity to add more silverware.
Ahead of Wednesday's second semifinal as Australian Hyundai A-League side Sydney FC, Kinnear said: "It would be great to start this year as we finished last year, by winning a trophy.
"Of course we are focusing on our new season coming up but we are taking this very seriously and we would love to win it."
Wednesday night's match, which kicks off at 8.30 p.m. Hawai'i time at Aloha Stadium, is an intriguing battle between two teams who look to be evenly matched.
Even though the Hyundai A-League season has finished for Sydney FC, coach John Kosmina and captain Tony Popovic both welcomed the chance to play extra matches.
"Our league regular season only has 21 games, plus the playoffs on top, which is far less than many other leagues," Popovic said, "so fixture congestion does not apply in our case."
Added Kosmina: "For us the chance to be involved in the first staging of an event which I believe could grow into something big over the next few years is fantastic. We have had a tough season, but I don't hear anyone complaining about being in Hawaii."
Houston's attack will be fronted by hometown favorite Brian Ching, and Kinnear is confident that playing in front of his fans will bring out the best in the 29-year-old United States international.
"Brian is a great professional and a quality player and I know he will want to show the Hawaiian people what he can do," Kinnear said.
