Photo by Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

Octavio Rivero and the Vancouver Whitecaps have taken the league by storm in recent weeks, but the team will face a true test this weekend against the reigning MLS Cup champions.

Saturday’s matchup against the LA Galaxy will serve as a major measuring stick for the Whitecaps, who have seen Rivero score thrice in four games.

While the Whitecaps have started hot, no team in MLS has quite kept up with FC Dallas, who survived to earn a point from last week’s matchup with the Seattle Sounders despite going down a man. FC Dallas will now take on a Portland Timbers side on the other end of the spectrum as the team continues to search for its first win.

In other action, D.C. United travels south to take on Orlando City, the Seattle Sounders face the Houston Dynamo and Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley return to lead Toronto FC against the Chicago Fire.

Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s MLS action:

ORLANDO CITY vs. D.C. UNITED (Friday, 7 p.m., UniMas)

After being decimated by international call-ups last week, Orlando City head into Friday’s matchup with D.C. United shorthanded once again.

Critian Higuita, Lewis Neal and Carlos Rivas are all expected to miss out for the Lions, who will receive the added boost of welcoming Kaka back into the fold after the Brazilian missed out on training this week. D.C. United also enter Friday far from unscathed due to the absence of Steve Birnbaum, who is set to be out for at least a month with a sprained left ankle.

CHICAGO FIRE vs. TORONTO FC (Saturday, 3 p.m., MLS Live)

The Chicago Fire finally got into the win column with their efforts last week, but Harry Shipp and co. face an entirely new test in facing a Toronto FC side welcoming back Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.

With the two stars returning from international duty, the Fire put forth a star-in-the-making of their own in the form of Harry Shipp, who proved dominant with his creativity and dribbling last time out against the Philadelphia Union.

COLORADO RAPIDS vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (Saturday, 7 p.m., MLS Live)

In three games, the Colorado Rapids have yet to feature in a contest that has produced a goal for either side. Fresh off back-to-back-to-back scoreless draws, the Rapids are now set to face off with a team breaking out of a goalscoring slump of their own.

The New England Revolution were held scoreless for the team’s opening three contests before Kelyn Rowe provided a brace last time out against the Earthquakes. The Revs attack is set to be further bolstered by the returning Teal Bunbury, although Jermaine Jones remains sidelined for the time being.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS vs. LA GALAXY (Saturday, 10 p.m., MLS Live)

Octavio Rivero will have his work cut out for him if the young Whitecaps forward hopes to continue his goalscoring spree.

Rivero has scored three goals in four matches this season, leading the way as the Whitecaps ride a three-game winning streak. That streak is now set to come up against the reigning MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, who look to rebound from last week’s disappointing short-handed loss to D.C. United.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO ( Saturday, 10 p.m., MLS Live)

Without all three of the club’s Designated Players, the stagnant Seattle Sounders were held scoreless last week against FC Dallas, despite spending a majority of the match up a man.

Although Clint Dempsey remains sidelined, Obafemi Martins could be welcomed back this weekend against the Houston Dynamo, who has played some stingy defense having only allowed two goals to this point.

PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. FC DALLAS (Saturday, 10:30 p.m., MLS Live)

Saturday’s matchup between the Portland Timbers and FC Dallas provides a clash between two sides on the different ends of momentum.

FC Dallas, to this point, have gotten nearly everything correct, rattling off a three-game winning streak before surviving going down a man with a shorthanded roster to earn a point against the Seattle Sounders. Leading scorer Blas Perez is now set to return from international duty to take on a Portland Timbers side that has struggled to get anything right, entering Saturday winless.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. REAL SALT LAKE (Sunday, 5 p.m., ESPN 2)

The San Jose Earthquakes are set for their sophomore effort at Avaya Stadium and will be looking to remain unbeaten at their new home.

Standing in their way will be Real Salt Lake, who claimed the club’s first victory of the season last time out despite a myriad of international absences.

SPORTING KC vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION (Sunday, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1)

Ike Opara led the way in last week’s victory over NYCFC, and now the Sporting KC defender is set to face the somewhat manageable task of facing a down-on-their-luck Philadelphia Union side.

The Union currently sit on two points, the fewest in the league, and most recently fell to the Chicago Fire for the opposition’s first win of the season. Things could be made slightly brighter for the Union with the absence of SKC winger Graham Zusi, who is recovering from a hamstring strain, although the Union could be without Cristian Maidana due to an MCL injury.