The Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders have enjoyed mostly divergent fortunes since their previous meeting on April 26. While the Sounders have gone 6-2-2 in league play, the Rapids are just 4-8-1 to slip to seventh in the Western Conference.

Here’s what you need to know:

Injury news

Sounders

OUT: Paul Arriola - Knee; Stefan Frei - Head; Stuart Hawkins - Quad; Nouhou - Suspended; João Paulo - Knee

Rapids

OUT: Wayne Frederick - Hip; Nico Hansen - Groin; Alex Harris - Ankle

Opposition players to watch

• Djorde Mihailovic is the central focus of everything the Rapids want to do on offense. He's tied for the team lead in goals (eight) and leads the team in assists (five), while ranking third in touches. Mihailovic is especially dangerous on set pieces, as the Sounders found out in their previous meeting.
• Rafael Navarro is a big body that causes all sorts of trouble for opposing centerbacks. He has some decent speed as well, which makes him a handful.

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Stats to look smart

43.9: Count the Rapids as another team that doesn't seem all that interested in having the ball. The Rapids average just 43.9% possession, tied for the second lowest in the league. They also attempt the third fewest passes and have the second lowest progressive passing distance. The Sounders are going to have to make the game.

56: The Sounders average 2.33 goals per home game when they have at least 56% possession, going 4-1-1 in those matches. At home, they actually do a pretty good job of "making the game."

Tactics to impress

• The Rapids are a team who is more interested in creating turnovers than they are with having the ball. In the first meeting, this caused all sorts of problems for the Sounders, but they've been able to handle the press more effectively in the months since that time.
• The Sounders are once again dealing with a red-card suspension to a fullback, this time Nouhou. Most likely, Jon Bell is going to slide outside. How they use him will be interesting. Nouhou's best offensive attribute is his ability to break lines with the dribble, something that Bell isn't as known for. More likely, Bell will be asked to sit back and let the ball do the work.

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