FC Dallas traveled to Panama for Wednesday's CONCACAF Champions League match against Tauro FC on Monday but so without midfielder Kellyn Acosta.

Acosta had been held out of several training sessions with a groin injury and didn't start FCD's final preseason match against the Portland Timbers on Saturday. When he did come into the match in the second half, the time on the field was cut short by what appeared to be a reactivation of the injury.

That means FCD likely will be utilizing the same starting eleven against Tauro that it played in that game with Victor Ulloa and Carlos Gruezo partnering together in the midfield where Gruezo usually features alongside Acosta.

New addition Santiago Mosquera, who went through his first training session with FCD last week after his signing was announced Feb. 12, did travel with the team and could start.

The MLS regular season doesn't start until March 3, but the CONCACAF Champions League - pitting the top teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean against each other - always has been an important tournament for FCD.

Coach Oscar Pareja said making the semifinals last year and falling just short against Mexican side Pachuca has the team hungry for more on the international level.

"Well, we're ready. We've been preparing for this for the last four weeks and we're excited and just looking forward to start competing for what we aimed for last year," he said. "It was a good participation in the CONCACAF and now we have the opportunity back."

Side-to-side

The arrival of Reto Ziegler in the offseason pushed FCD mainstay Matt Hedges into a place he hasn't played much during his time with the club - the right side of the defense. Hedges, who is right-footed, has occupied the left center back spot for much of his time in Frisco. Ziegler is left-footed and will make up the left half of a back four with fellow newcomer Anton Nedyalkov.

Hedges said he's not concerned about the transition, though it will take a bit to get adjusted.

"You know, right or left is not a big difference for me. I've played on the left just so that guys feel more comfortable on their natural, right-footed side," he said. "Now that we've got a left-footed player there, I move to my right-footed side. It'll take a little bit to get used to just because I played five or six years on the left but it shouldn't be that bad of a transition."

Against Tauro, Hedges and Ziegler may be kept busy with the Panamanian side looking for veteran forward Edwin Aguilar up top.

"They have a tall striker, they have fast players around him. I think they're going to play a lot of long balls. It's my job and Matt's job to win these long balls and then we have to win the middle," Ziegler said. "We know what we have to do, but I think we have a lot of quality in this team so if we play concentrated I don't think it's going to be too hard. But, of course, it's a Champions League game, an away game, so we have to be ready."

Familiar face

Last season, FCD topped Arabe Unido to move onto the next round of the CCL. While it's a different Panamanian side this time around, there could still be a familiar face from that group.

Tauro attacking midfielder Enrico Small played for Arabe Unido until transferring to Tauro in the winter and played in both CCL matches against FCD last time around. He returned from injury in Tauro's 2-1 victory over Chorrillo on Saturday and is available to Tauro coach Rolando Palma.

"We have to hit first and keep a clean sheet," Small told reporters in Panama.