VANCOUVER — Roommates on the road this season, the Caps' erudite wise old head and the quiet young man with whom he's sharing his wealth of experience will try to put their discussions to practice Wednesday at BC Place.

Veteran striker Robert Earnshaw, the 34-year-old by way of Zambia and Wales, and midfielder/winger Kianz Froese, the 19-year-old by way of Cuba and Winnipeg, are expected to start as the Caps go with a mostly second-unit squad in the opening leg of the Amway Canadian championship semifinal against FC Edmonton (7 p.m., Pacific time, on TSN, TSN 1410).

With a lot of guys in front of them on the depth chart, each has appeared in just three Major League Soccer games this season — Froese for 66 minutes; Earnshaw, officially at least, for seven, although you can add another 10 to 12 minutes of stoppage time.

Earnshaw, a free-agent signing this season, has scored once, while Froese, a product of the Caps' residency program, has recorded a couple of shots and provided a spark off the bench in his appearances.

Both would love to be playing more. But Earnshaw understands that his role is almost that of a player-coach, while Froese is simply caught in a situation where he has to be patient.

"I talk to Robbo all the time and I understand I'm a young player," says Froese, whose one MLS appearance last year as an 18-year-old was for the second half of a tense derby game with Seattle.

"Things take time. I also know our team is very good compared with other MLS teams. Anybody can start and do a job. My time will come."

“Robbo” — head coach Carl Robinson — says the youngster, who has played with Canada's Under-17 and U-20 national teams, has got "something special."

"He's got potential. But fulfilling potential is another thing. When he gets his opportunity he's got to try to take it. He'll get that opportunity (Wednesday).”

Froese has been loaned out to the Caps' USL Pro side a couple of games this season to get the valuable minutes so crucial to his development.

"This is just another opportunity to show myself and, hopefully, play more games," says Froese. "One thing I've learned is you can't look too far into the future. I'm focused on (Wednesday) and my performance."

Froese has been doing extra cardio work after training, sprints and laps of the practice field, in anticipation of going the full 90 minutes Wednesday.

"I feel fit and I've lost some weight, so that's good."

Robinson said part of the reason that Earnshaw and Froese have been paired as hotel roommates on the road is to draw the youngster "out of his shell a little bit."

"Earnie does a lot of mentoring off the field," Froese says of the man who has played more than 500 club matches in his career and who scored 16 goals in 59 games as a Welsh international. "If there's days where something is going for me or I just have a question, he's been through it all so it's great to talk to him.

"I'm quite comfortable with him, so I'm hoping it really helps me settle into the game."

Froese and Earnshaw could be teamed as part of an attacking group with another little-used forward in 24-year-old Erik Hurtado, who has played just 141 minutes of over six games this season.

"This is why these games are great," Earnshaw says of the Canadian championship matches. "The opposition is going to be tough. Edmonton are going to be hungry. And you have to relish these opportunities."

Earnshaw admits it's going to be a challenge for himself, Froese, Hurtado and attacking midfielder Nico Mezquida to develop some quick on-field chemistry.

"You can have a lot of training sessions and, obviously, we train together a hell of a lot. But once you get out into a game situation, it is totally different. I mean you work on a lot of things with certain people, but especially with young guys who haven't played a hell of a lot together, it sometimes takes a little bit of time.

"That's what we have to make sure we do good at, try to play for the guy next to you on your team. If our understanding is there, I think we'll do well."

Earnshaw says it's important for both him and the young players to have fun and enjoy themselves.

That thought seems to have resonated with Froese.

Asked what would be the ideal game for him Wednesday, he pauses before replying: "For me, I just try to go out and have fun and, hopefully, things take care of themselves."

gkingston@vancouversun.com