FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Remember the tightly-packed, offensively-stilted Eastern Conference Semifinal first leg played out between the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution last weekend at Giants Stadium?
Don't expect it to have much bearing on Saturday's second leg at Gillette Stadium.
"We definitely want to go after them," Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said after a light training session on Friday morning. "We need to get after them. We need to start the game on the front foot."
The shift in mentality comes after Nicol's side accomplished its goal of keeping a clean sheet in the first leg to set up this winner-take-all contest with New England's sixth consecutive berth in the Eastern Conference Championship on the line.
But don't expect New England to pour forward with reckless abandon in search of the killer blow in the first 10 minutes.
"We don't want to be crazy about it either," Nicol said. "We want to be professional about it."
New England will attempt to extend its 12-match winning streak at Gillette Stadium against the Red Bulls (9-0-3 during that span) with that professional performance. New York hasn't triumphed since win 2-0 in the first game it ever played at the stadium on June 29, 2002.
Revolution captain Steve Ralston said history doesn't matter when it comes to the playoffs.
"I just hope we come out as the aggressors tomorrow," Ralston said.
Nicol will hope Pat Noonan will recover in time to play from the opening whistle tomorrow. Noonan has trained intermittently this week while struggling with a groin injury and did not participate in full-field scrimmages the past two days.
Nicol said he held out Noonan as a precautionary measure.
"He's been a bit tight in his groin," Nicol said. "He should be ready for tomorrow."
Adam Cristman filled in for Noonan up top and would expect to take the veteran striker's place if Noonan is deemed unfit to start.
Nicol said his side had no other injury or selection worries ahead of tomorrow's contest. The constancy means Wells Thompson will retain his place on the right wing and Steve Ralston will continue in the central midfield role he assumed from Andy Dorman on Oct. 6. New England has yet to win without Dorman in the starting lineup (0-2-2).
One change occurred on the field itself: the Gillette Stadium field crew removed the football lines for Saturday night's contest.
Because the New England Patriots have a bye week next week, those lines would remain off the field if New England advances to the Eastern Conference final it would play host to next Thursday night. Chicago ousted D.C. United 3-2 on aggregate to ensure the final would take place at Gillette Stadium if New England can defeat New York.
Ralston said his side isn't worried about the next game just yet.
"We can't look forward to that right now," Ralston said. "We have to win tomorrow."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
