There's no change at the top, but there's a high riser in the middle of SBI's MLS Power Rankings.

The Portland Timbers, on the strength of two impressive home victories, have climbed out of the cellar and all the way up to No. 11 in the latest rankings, making them the highest risers of the week.

D.C. United and Columbus are two other teams on the rise after their respective victories over the weekend.

Among those on the downward slope are the Chicago Fire and FC Dallas, who, oddly enough, were the teams that went into JELD-WEN Field and left with defensive questions and a few too many close ups of Timber Joey being put to work.

Here are this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings (as voted on by SBI staff):

SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 5)

1. (Last week – 1) REAL SALT LAKE (4-0-0)

Last week: Beat Colorado, 1-0, on Wednesday.

This week: First leg, CONCACAF Champions League final, 10 p.m., Wednesday, Fox Soccer Channel.

Outlook: Fabian Espindola most certainly looked to be in an offside position when he scored the winning goal against Rocky Mountain rival Colorado, but is it really a surprise that RSL came through in dramatic fashion against the Rapids after its recent series of dramatic moments in this rivalry? RSL, the lone undefeated team in MLS, turns its focus turns from league play to the away leg of the CCL final vs. Monterrey.

2. (2) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (3-1-3)

Last week: Tied Toronto FC, 1-1, on Wednesday; Beat Chicago, 2-1 on Sunday.

This week: vs. Portland, 11 p.m., Saturday, Fox Soccer Channel.

Outlook: Considering who was missing from the lineup on Sunday, the victory at Toyota Park is that more impressive. Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Juan Pablo Angel should all get the chance to start against the Timbers, who are riding high after two home victories. Leonardo's season-ending injury opens up a hole at central defense, one that A.J. DeLaGarza will have to fill for the time being.

3. (4) COLORADO RAPIDS (3-2-0)

Last week: Lost to Real Salt Lake, 1-0, on Wednesday.

This week: vs. Seattle, 9:30 p.m., Friday, Fox Soccer Channel

Outlook: After an impressive start, the Rapids have lost two straight matches. It's no secret that the MLS Cup champs are a different side without Pablo Mastroeni and Conor Casey, and Colorado will have to find a way to scratch out results until both are fit. Things won't get any easier for this week's nationally televised match against the Sounders.

T-4. (3) PHILADELPHIA UNION (3-1-1)

Last week: Tied Seattle, 1-1, on Saturday.

This week: Idle.

Outlook: The Union turned in a better performance from a possession standpoint against Seattle than it did against the Red Bulls, but didn't manage to walk away with the three points after Alvaro Fernandez' late equalizer. That moment will stew for the next couple of weeks after the team rescheduled this week's match against RSL to accommodate Salt Lake's CCL run.

T-4. (5) NEW YORK RED BULLS (2-1-2)

Last week: Beat San Jose, 3-0, on Saturday.

This week: at D.C. United, 8 p.m., Thursday, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes.

Outlook: Leave it to Luke Rodgers to open the floodgates for the Red Bulls. After dominating possession for its previous couple of match but struggling to find the back of the net, New York had Rodgers and Thierry Henry break through in an impressive, overwhelming display against the Earthquakes. Thursday's Atlantic Cup rivalry match should be a thrilling bout between two in-form teams.

6. (9) HOUSTON DYNAMO (2-1-2)

Last week: Beat New England, 1-0, on Sunday.

This week: at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., Saturday.

Outlook: Considering the Revolution didn't have Shalrie Joseph and Pat Phelan and it took a controversial goal to earn the points, the Dynamo can't be completely thrilled its latest result; however, after last year's string of misfortune, perhaps it's better to just take the points and run. New signings Sergio Koke and JeVaughn Watson should integrate more life into Houston's improving attack.

7. (7) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (1-2-3)

Last week: Tied Philadelphia, 1-1, on Saturday.

This week: at Colorado, 9:30 p.m., Friday, Fox Soccer Channel.

Outlook: Although the 90-minute display against Philadelphia (in horrid conditions) wasn't the greatest, the Sounders deserve credit for coming up with a big goal and a point at PPL Park. DPs Fredy Montero and Alvaro Fernandez connected for the tying strike, which is a sight for sore eyes in the Emerald City.

8. (14) D.C. UNITED (2-2-1)

Last week: Beat Toronto FC, 3-0, on Saturday.

This week: vs. New York, 8 p.m., Thursday, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes.

Outlook: Charlie Davies earned his first start against TFC, and the result was United's most complete offensive output of the season. With Chris Pontius coming to life, Davies continuing to score and rookie defenders Chris Korb and Ethan White continuing to contribute, D.C. is on the rise heading into its home match against rival New York.

9. (15) COLUMBUS CREW (2-1-2)

Last week: Beat Sporting Kansas City, 1-0, on Saturday.

This week: at Toronto FC, 4 p.m., Saturday.

Outlook: Make that 373 scoreless minutes and a club-record fourth consecutive clean sheet turned in by the Crew defense, which is appearing to be more legitimate of a unit as the weeks go by. Goal-starved Toronto FC could become clean-sheet victim No. 5 for Columbus, which hasn't yielded a goal since the opening weekend of the season.

10. (6) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (1-2-2)

Last week: Lost to New York, 3-0, on Saturday.

This week: vs. Chivas USA, 4 p.m., Saturday, Telefutura.

Outlook: Momentum is not on the Earthquakes' side, not after following up a home draw with Toronto by being dominated in every fashion by the Red Bulls. Fortunately for San Jose, Chivas has had a hard time finding the back of the net and could be on the schedule at just the right time.

11. (18) PORTLAND TIMBERS (2-2-1)

Last week: Beat Chicago, 4-2, on Thursday; Beat FC Dallas, 3-2, on Sunday.

This week: at Los Angeles, 11 p.m., Saturday, Fox Soccer Channel.

Outlook: Now that's how to introduce your home field to the league. After struggling to find the back of the net in its first three games, Portland exploded for seven slabs of wood in two impressive victories. The real question is if the Timbers can turn that home success into a road result against the Galaxy. It will be interesting to see how newly signed Designated Player Diego Chara fits into John Spencer's attack that seems to be hitting its stride.

12. (8) FC DALLAS (1-3-1)

Last week: Lost to Portland, 3-2, on Sunday.

This week: at Vancouver, 7 p.m., Saturday.

Outlook: Like Chicago, FCD learned the hard way that getting a result at JELD-WEN Field is no easy feat. Credit Dallas for making it a game after falling behind early, but the screws need to be tightened a bit more in the back before heading into another hostile environment against an expansion team capable of putting up a crooked number on the scoreboard (although Vancouver's momentum has slowed considerably).

13. (11) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (1-2-2)

Last week: Lost to Houston, 1-0, on Saturday.

This week: vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

Outlook: The loss at Houston was an admirable effort under adverse circumstances, and now the club has Benny Feilhaber fall into its lap after Chivas USA and Philadelphia passed on the chance to acquire the U.S. national team midfielder. Should Feilhaber not be traded, he and Joseph would form one of the more intriguing central midfield tandems in the league.

14. (10) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (1-2-3)

Last week: Tied Chivas USA, 0-0, on Saturday.

This week: vs. FC Dallas, 7 p.m., Saturday.

Outlook: The early buzz surrounding the Whitecaps has started to subside after the team's high-octane attack has slowed in recent matches. Vancouver probably expected more out of its home match against Chivas and now turns its attention to making up for lost points against a fickle FC Dallas side that can be as good as it gets in the league but can also be quite vulnerable.

15. (12) SPORTING KANSAS CITY (1-2-1)

Last week: Lost to Columbus, 1-0, on Saturday.

This week: at New England, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

Outlook: The league's deadliest attack went silent against Columbus coming off a bye week, although the sloppy conditions at Crew Stadium might shoulder some of the blame. On the bright side, its defense, one of the league's most porous units, held the Crew to one goal. That said, Brazilian centerback Julio Cesar had a horrible night and will be suspended (red card) for the match at New England, giving new signing Aurelien Collin the chance to stand out immediately.

16. (13) CHICAGO FIRE (1-3-1)

Last week: Lost to Portland, 4-2, on Thursday; Lost to Los Angeles, 2-1, on Sunday.

This week: vs. Houston, 8:30 p.m., Saturday.

Outlook: Tough week for the Fire. Between goalkeeper Sean Johnson appearing to have lost all confidence in the loss to Portland to his subsequent benching ahead of the loss to Los Angeles — which was without Beckham and Donovan and did not start Angel — questions are arising in spots that seemed to have been secure.

17. (16) TORONTO FC (1-2-2)

Last week: Tied Los Angeles, 0-0, on Wednesday; Lost to D.C. United, 3-0 on Saturday.

This week: vs. Columbus, 4 p.m., Saturday.

Outlook: The good? Holding the Galaxy to a scoreless draw. The bad? Being beaten in every way by D.C. It shouldn't take until a player gets sent off for an attack to start clicking. Considering current form, TFC will be hard-pressed to snap the Crew's shutout streak. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei continues to impress, though.

18. (17) CHIVAS USA (0-2-3)

Last week: Tied Vancouver, 0-0, on Saturday.

This week: at San Jose, 4 p.m., Saturday, Telefutura.

Outlook: Make that consecutive scoreless draws for Chivas, which indicates that Robin Fraser is working his magic with the back line but also that the front line needs reinforcements. Passing on the chance to acquire Feilhaber will be scrutinized until the winless Goats make a move or series of moves that improves the quality of the league's least-potent attack.