Real Salt Lake: Kreis prepares for MLS, CONC..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sandy — Games are bunching again for Real Salt Lake. In this case, however, it's accepted as a good thing. Yet, RSL coach Jason Kreis is keeping an eagle eye on player fitness. Several, including defender Jamison Olave, picked up a few bumps and bruises during Saturday's 2-0 victory against Colorado. It may well impact the lineup which takes the field Friday in Rio Tinto Stadium at 7 p.m. against Vancouver. Because RSL then has an immediate turnaround and flies to Costa Rica and its 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League opener at C.S. Herediano at 8 p.m. (MDT) on Tuesday. "If anybody is on the bubble about their fitness Friday, then we'll need to hold them out and wait for Tuesday," Kreis said. "We believe [Olave] is going to be OK. He's a player in that same exact category. When we get to Friday and he's not 100 percent, he won't be in consideration for Friday." RSL travels in style to Costa Rica as the front office has kicked in for a chartered flight. "Our ownership is stepping up," RSL's Will Johnson. "That makes all the difference in the world. It's a massive game down there." Johnson, though, says RSL's focus will first rest on the visiting White Caps, third in the Western Conference behind Real. "We can only win one game at a time," he said. "If our minds are already in Costa Rica, we'll lose Friday." — Martin Renzhofer martyr@sltrib.com Twitter:RSLtribune

Real Salt Lake: Kreis prepares for MLS, CONCACAF