The Seattle Sounders are missing 11 players for a variety of reasons including injury, suspension and international duty and will face a less-shorthanded and desperate Real Salt Lake on Saturday. The Sounders can clinch the No. 5 spot in the West with a point while RSL are locked in a battle for the final two spots.

Here’s what you need to know:

Availability report

Sounders

OUT: Paul Arriola - Knee; Reed Baker-Whiting - International Duty; Snyder Brunell - International Duty; Yeimar Gómez Andrade - Hamstring; Ryan Kent - Hamstring; Kim Kee-hee - Calf; Georgi Minoungou - International Duty; Nouhou - International Duty; Cristian Roldan - International Duty; Albert Rusnák - Suspended; Obed Vargas - International Duty

Real Salt Lake

OUT: Matthew Bell - Hamstring; Javain Brown - Knee; Zavier Gozo - International Duty; Kobi Henry - International Duty; Diego Luna - International Duty; Zac MacMath - Shoulder; Braian Ojeda - International Duty; Marcos Zambrano - International Duty

QUESTIONABLE: Victor Olatunji - Groin

Opposition players to watch

Diogo Goncalves: The Designated Player hasn't really ever lived up to his billing, but especially with Diego Luna and Braian Ojeda out on international duty, RSL are going to look to Goncalves to be their primary playmaker.

Rafael Cabral: We don't normally list goalkeepers in this space, but such is the state of RSL. Cabral has been a consistent performer in the back and while his numbers don't jump off the page, he doesn't give goals away.

Sounder at Heart will receive a portion of all sales made using this link.

Stats to look smart

13: RSL aren't the worst road team in the league, but they are the lowest scoring one in the Western Conference with just 13 goals. That's three fewer than anyone else in the West and more than just two other teams in the whole league.

37: The Sounders have scored 37 goals in 16 league games at Lumen Field, the most they've ever scored in a MLS season and third most in the league this season.

Tactics to impress

More than any other team in MLS, Real Salt Lake loves to take long shots. It's probably best to just let them keep doing that.
Only four teams force opponents to take longer shots than the Sounders, which seems like a pretty good strategy to maintain.