It's right back to MLS regular season action for Vancouver Whitecaps FC after the club successfully won its first Amway Canadian Championship title 4-2 on aggregate against the Montreal Impact on Wednesday night at BC Place.

Just days after capturing the Voyageurs Cup, the ‘Caps will meet a fighting Houston Dynamo side at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston for a significant MLS tilt, as the two sides jockey for MLS positioning in the Western Conference standings.  

Head-to-head, Vancouver has the advantage, with a 3W-2L-0D record against the Dynamo. However, the home team has won every meeting so far between the two teams. This is the first of two meetings between the two sides this season.

Desperation for the Dynamo

The Houston Dynamo are coming off a three-game winless road trip, which concluded with a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, and the club is now three points out of a playoff spot going into Saturday’s clash.

Returning home with only one point in three games, the Dynamo will be motivated to get back into the win column in front of a home crowd.

The Whitecaps need to remain focused

Both the Whitecaps and Dynamo are playing their second game of the week. However, the Whitecaps have been in a celebratory mood since capturing their first Canadian title on Wednesday.

But this is a new game with new expectations and new significance. As the weeks of the MLS regular season begin to wind down, the ‘Caps can’t afford to get sluggish now if they hope to pass the first-place Los Angeles Galaxy, who sit just one point ahead of Vancouver but with two more games played.

The Supporters' Shield is within sight for the Whitecaps, but the players must continue to play at the level they are capable of, with full support from both ends of the pitch. 

Things are moving in the right direction for the ‘Caps, who survived their busiest month of the year with only one loss in seven August matches so far. However, this will be the Whitecaps’ third game in eight days and fatigue may play a factor.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson inserts some fresh legs into his lineup.

Players to watch

Whitecaps midfielder Cristian Techera has been playing great as of late. He has three goals and one assist in his last four MLS matches and has been a vital part of the Whitecaps’ attack.

Whitecaps midfielder Kekuta Manneh continues to be a menace to the opposition as well. The 20-year-old Gambian has two goals and three assists in his last four MLS games.

Dynamo striker Will Bruin has been Houston’s offensive threat this season, tallying 10 times to lead his team. Midfielder Brad Davis also continues to be a force on the pitch and is an integral part of the Dynamo's attack. Look for these two to make some noise out there.

On the other hand, the Dynamo may again be without the versatility and experience of midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, who remains questionable for this contest after suffering a calf injury a few weeks back.