Questions remain about Sounders' starting XI for Sunday

Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid told reporters today that he couldn't give any real injury updates, but he did clarify that Osvaldo Alonso was battling with a groin injury that kept him out of the matchday squad against the LA Galaxy on Wednesday. He also said earlier this week that midfielder Marco Pappa should be ready for Sunday, but the player trained inside today and Schmid revealed nothing about the player's availability for the first leg against FC Dallas.

The only other major worries are Sounders captain Brad Evans, who took a slight knock on Wednesday after having moved from center back to left-back to cover Leo Gonzalez's substitution due to injury.

Schmid praised Evans' versatility and discipline in making that move, "he's a player who's tactically pretty sound, so as a result he can slide into different positions because he'll play it like that position should be played."

Unfortunately, Evans may have been a little too eager to attack, which may have led to his slight injury. Schmid told the media, "I wish he had maybe made one less run forward, then maybe he might not have pulled up in the end."

Seattle will hope to have Evans, as well as Gonzalez (whose assessment is also yet to be revealed), back against an FC Dallas side full of pacy, talented players that have the potential to punish opposing teams for even the slightest defensive misstep. Schmid brought up FC Dallas' proficiency at set pieces, "they've got some big bodies there with Hedges, Texeira, Blas Perez, Watson is certainly a big body who likes to get in there."

If neither Evans nor Gonzalez can play, that likely means Zach Scott would start at center back and Oniel Fisher would start at left back. Fisher started nine games, mostly recently the 1-1 tie at Sporting Kansas City, and played in seven other matches. Scott made 15 starts and 20 total appearances, and subbed in for Gonzalez on Wednesday.

There was no update on Nelson Haedo Valdez, but the assumption all along was that he'd only play 60-70 minutes and he didn't appear to pick up any new injuries.