On the first weekend of the new MLS season, Houston Dynamo welcome Sporting Kansas City to Texas on Saturday evening.
This fixture will see a repeat of one of last season's Western Conference playoff semi-finals, which Houston won by a solitary goal to nil.
Match preview
While progression to last year's Western Conference final at the expense of Sporting Kansas may have felt sweet, Houston soon encountered a problem, as they were beaten by LAFC in the subsequent tie.
Despite falling just short of the nationwide final, it was still a fine season for the Dynamo, given that it was just their second playoff appearance in 10 seasons.
The real high point of the campaign was unquestionably their US Open Cup final victory over Inter Miami though, spoiling the party for MLS's most-talked-about club.
Manager Ben Olsen will hope to oversee similar levels of success ahead of the 2024 season, as Houston have struggled more than most over the last decade.
After winning the playoffs in their first two seasons as a franchise in 2006 and 2007, Houston also topped the Western Conference in 2008, but they have never hit the same heights since.
In three of those often barren 10 seasons, Houston finished bottom of the Western Conference, showing what a fine job Olsen has done, considering he has also taken them into the CONCACAF Champions League.
Houston have some work to do to progress past the first round of that competition though, after losing 2-1 to St Louis City in their first competitive outing of 2024 last midweek, with the second leg coming up on Tuesday.
Kansas manager Peter Vermes will seek revenge after Houston ended his side's season in that semi-final in his 15th year at the helm.
The long-serving manager guided his side into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, being one of the four sides who entered via the preliminary round.
After beating San Jose Earthquakes on penalties and St Louis in a two-game series, the Houston hurdle was insurmountable for Sporting KC, ending what was a run of five straight wins.
The visitors have looked good in pre-season ahead of their return to competitive action, though, scoring 12 goals in four friendlies, including three in an impressive win over Atlanta United.
Kansas will be looking to end a decade-long wait for an MLS Cup crown, as despite winning the Western Conference in 2018 and 2020, their last overall success came back in 2013.
They are likely to be in contention again though, considering they have reached the playoffs in 11 of the previous 13 seasons.
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Team News
Sebastian Ferreira will miss out for Houston here after he was stretchered off in the first half of their clash with St Louis in midweek, joining Hector Herrera and Nelson Quinones on the long-term injury list.
Houston handed debuts to both Jan Gregus and Gabriel Segal in the defeat to St Louis after they joined the club in the off-season, but both may remain on the bench here.
One of the current crop will have to step up to replace the influential Corey Baird, who joined Cincinnati following a fine campaign in 2023.
The attacker contributed to 22 goals as Houston reached the playoff semi-finals, with notable performances late in the season, and he will be a big miss.
Sporting Kansas have also added to their squad during the off-season, with Zohran Bassong returning to MLS after a spell in Romania, as well as former Houston man Memo Rodriguez, who has arrived from Austin FC.
The big threat in attack will likely be Alan Pulido once again, after the Mexican netted 15 goals for SKC last season, while flanking him will be former Derby County man Johnny Russell, who is still an important member of the side at 33, following nine goals last year from out wide.
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Schmitt, Sviatchenko, Micael; Artur, Carrasquilla; Dorsey, Kowalczyk, Raines, Smith; Ibrahim
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Davis, Castellanos, Fontas, Leibold; Walter, Radoja, Thommy; Russell, Pulido, Salloi
We say: Houston Dynamo 1-1 Sporting Kansas City
While Houston got the better of Kansas in that huge encounter in the playoffs last season, a more reserved encounter could be in store with much less riding on proceedings.
Both sides will want a positive start to get their campaign underway though, but the hosts need to prove they can cope with life after Baird following a defeat in continental action in midweek.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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