After a season-opening victory, Real Salt Lake maintained its spot atop the SBI MLS Power Rankings, although change could potentially be in the air after this weekend's matches.
RSL and the Los Angeles Galaxy, who held firm at No. 2, do battle in the marquee matchup of the weekend, even though some of the bigger names (Landon Donovan, Alvaro Saborio) won't be there because of international duty.
As for some of the biggest movers in this week's power rankings, Vancouver jumped six spots with its impressive season-opening victory, D.C. United crept closer to the top 5 and Philadelphia cracked the top 10, while Columbus and Seattle took a tumble after tripping up out of the gates.
Here are this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings:
SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 1)
1. (Last week – 1) REAL SALT LAKE (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat San Jose, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, Saturday, 9 p.m.
Outlook: Nick Rimando came up huge, and Kyle Beckerman's goal rescued three points in sloppy conditions in San Jose for a season-opening win. RSL turns its attention to Western Conference foe Los Angeles, though it will be without Alvaro Saborio, Will Johnson and Arturo Alvarez (international duty) for the crucial match.
2. (2) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (1-0-1)
Last week: Beat Seattle, 1-0, last Tuesday; Tied New England, 1-1, on Sunday.
This week: at Real Salt Lake, Saturday, 9 p.m.
Outlook: Despite injuries to three key players, the Galaxy earned four points from its first two matches. Juninho will have to keep his hot streak going as the Galaxy will be without Landon Donovan for an early-season test at Rio Tinto Stadium.
3. (3) NEW YORK RED BULLS (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Seattle, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: at Columbus, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: The Red Bulls will be severely short-handed for Saturday's match, with Juan Agudelo, Tim Ream, Rafael Marquez, Dane Richards and Bouna Coundoul among those on international duty. The team still has to like its chances to score road points after seeing how the Crew fared at D.C.
4. (6) COLORADO RAPIDS (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Portland, 3-1, on Saturday.
This week: at Chivas USA, Saturday, 10:30 p.m.
Outlook: The club looked extremely sharp as it embarked on its title defense. Omar Cummings & Co. toyed with the Timbers' defense, but Cummings and Sanna Nyassi will be on international duty as the Rapids look to do the same against a supposedly improved Chivas back line that struggled against Kansas City in its opener.
5. (T-4) FC DALLAS (0-0-1)
Last week: Tied Chicago, 1-1, on Saturday.
This week: vs. San Jose, Saturday, 9 p.m.
Outlook: FCD fought hard for its point after Brek Shea's red card left the team short-handed, and he'll miss the match against the Earthquakes. Zach Loyd and Milton Rodriguez stood tall in the team's Week 1 draw.
6. (T-8) D.C. UNITED (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Columbus, 3-1, on Saturday.
This week: at New England, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: What a difference a season makes. Between Josh Wolff's presence up top, Charlie Davies' two-goal outburst, Dax McCarty's work in central midfield and Perry Kitchen's ability in central defense, all of D.C.'s newcomers are on the right track. Kitchen will be on U-20 duty this weekend, though.
7. (11) PHILADELPHIA UNION (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Houston, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Vancouver, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: The Union's resolve to win on the road must have been a breath of fresh air for the team and the Sons of Ben, who welcome expansion Vancouver to PPL Park for the home opener. Faryd Mondragon's presence in goal was paramount to the victory, and he'll need to be at his best to stop DP striker Eric Hassli.
8. (10) SPORTING KANSAS CITY (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Chivas USA, 3-2, on Saturday
This week: at Chicago, Saturday, 4 p.m., Telefutura.
Outlook: Omar Bravo looked every bit like the Designated Player the SKC brass hoped they were getting with his two-goal, Player of the Week-winning debut. Bravo's next test is a stingy Fire defense. SKC will be without Kei Kamara, Stephane Auvray and Shavar Thomas for the match.
9. (T-4) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (0-2-0)
Last week: Lost to Los Angeles, 1-0, last Tuesday; Lost at New York, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Houston, Friday, 10 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel.
Outlook: The season couldn't have started out any worse, with Blaise Nkufo parting ways with the team hours before the season opener and the team failing to score in 180 minutes, albeit against two top teams. It's a bit early for the panic button, but Sigi Schmid's men need a home result to restore confidence.
10. (7) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost to Real Salt Lake, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: at FC Dallas, Saturday, 9 p.m.
Outlook: Chris Wondolowski and the rest of the Earthquakes had plenty of chances, but they couldn't find a way to beat Rimando. It won't get much easier going against a stout FCD defensive unit and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman on the road.
11. (15) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (0-0-1)
Last week: Tied Los Angeles, 1-1, on Sunday.
This week: vs. D.C. United, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: The Revolution did well to earn a point in horrid conditions at the Home Depot Center, but the club will have to be at its best to stop the D.C. United momentum train. Shalrie Joseph's performance had to delight N.E. fans.
12. (18) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Toronto FC, 4-2, on Saturday
This week: at Philadelphia, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: Hassli's two-goal performance and the Whitecaps' offensive prowess were perhaps the biggest surprises to emerge from the season's opening week. Can they replicate that output on the road against an improved Philadelphia side?
13. (16) CHICAGO FIRE (0-0-1)
Last week: Tied FC Dallas, 1-1, on Saturday
This week: vs. Sporting Kansas City, 4 p.m., Telefutura.
Outlook: The early returns on Diego Chaves and the rebuilt defense are solid after the Fire hauled in a hard-fought point against FC Dallas. Rookies Jalil Anibaba and C.J. Sapong, who both had strong debuts, will go head-to-head in this matchup of midwestern clubs.
14. (T-8) HOUSTON DYNAMO (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost to Philadelphia, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: at Seattle, Friday, 10 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel.
Outlook: Despite out-playing the Union for the majority of their match, the Dynamo couldn't find an equalizer, with Dominic Oduro's finishing problems rising to the surface again. In order to get into the W column, the Dynamo will look to take advantage of a fragile Seattle side, but winning at Qwest won't be easy.
15. (13) CHIVAS USA (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost to Sporting Kansas City, 3-2, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Colorado, Saturday, 10:30 p.m.
Outlook: The much ballyhooed defense failed to live up to its billing in yielding a goal right off the bat to Sapong and two more to Bravo, the former Chivas de Guadalajara standout. The Goats catch a break with Cummings on international duty, but Robin Fraser needs a better defensive effort from his squad.
16. (12) COLUMBUS CREW (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost at D.C., 3-1, on Saturday
This week: vs. New York, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: A dismal showing in D.C. is followed up by welcoming the Eastern Conference's true power to Crew Stadium. Fortunately for Columbus, the Red Bulls will be shorthanded. Robbie Rogers didn't get the start in the season opener, which is a head-scratcher considering the expectations for him this season.
17. (14) PORTLAND TIMBERS (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost at Colorado, 3-1, on Saturday.
This week: at Toronto FC, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Outlook: Portland had one of the more disappointing efforts on opening day, but facing the defending champions in Colorado was no easy task. We'll know more about this team's true attacking prowess after it has a chance to go up against Toronto's unit that yielded four goals to Vancouver.
18. (17) TORONTO FC (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost at Vancouver, 4-2, on Saturday
This week: vs. Portland, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Outlook: Doesn't get much worse than dropping a season opener while yielding four goals to a Canadian rival. It will get worse if the Reds can't fend off another expansion side at home in Week 2.