This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Judging by the workout, coach Jason Kreis appears poised to use reserve central defender Rauwshan McKenzie in place of the suspended Nat Borchers when RSL meets the Columbus Crew in the must-win second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series on Tuesday.If so, McKenzie says he's ready."It's definitely really exciting," he said after the team practiced today for the first time since earning a scoreless draw in the first leg at Columbus on Tuesday. "I'm looking forward to it, and have been waiting to get a chance since last year. … Just trying to make sure I'm ready for this one, since it's so early" in the season.McKenzie practiced with the starters today in the drills in which the team was divided that way, and his potential addition to the lineup would allow Kreis to minimize other changes by allowing defender Robbie Russell to simply start at right back — his usual spot in the team's three-man rotation of outside backs — in place of suspended Tony Beltran.Both Borchers and Beltran picked up red cards in the first leg, forcing them to miss the second leg next week at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL must win to advance to the semifinals against either Saprissa of Costa Rica or Olimpia of Honduras."It's a big challenge, there's no doubt about it," Kreis said. "But slightly less big than the 35-odd minutes that we had to play without them" in the first leg. "We'll at least get to have the same number of people on the field."Kreis said it won't be easy for RSL to survive the suspensions, especially because Borchers is such an integral part of organizing the defense.But he and his players have preached the value of the team's depth at every opportunity, and Kreis said that having talented and experienced players such as goalkeeper Nick Rimando and reigning MLS Defender of the Year Jamison Olave — nicknamed "The Eraser" for his ability to make defensive mistakes seem as if they never happened — surrounding whoever replaces Borchers will be a big help.As for McKenzie, the 24-year-old fourth-year pro feels as if this is just "another big game" for him, much like the ones he was able to play last season. He endured a tough night in RSL's wild and rain-soaked 5-4 loss at Cruz Azul in the group stage of the Champions League, but rebounded to play well in place of Olave in a late-season draw with Colorado and in the victorious rematch against Cruz Azul at Rio Tinto Stadium."I just have to step in and do my part," he said. "I just want to try to keep a clean sheet and and help the team get to the next round. … I just have to make sure I'm talking a lot and make sure the guys in front of me feel comfortable with what I'm telling them. So if I'm doing that, it's making their job easier and making everybody's job easier."