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SANDY — They still have veterans such as U.S. international Brad Davis, but when the Houston Dynamo kick off against Real Salt Lake at 8 p.m. Saturday, it won't look like the same opponent RSL has gotten to know over the past few years.

For starters, Saturday night's match at Rio Tinto Stadium will be the first time the two foes embraced in a Western Conference clash since the Dynamo originally moved east in 2011. Since that time, Houston appeared in three Eastern Conference title games and won two of them.

Hence, in many ways, the Dynamo's 2015 season has been a transition year — something RSL knows plenty about from the last two years.

"I think historically we've had some good success here against Houston," RSL defender Tony Beltran said. "But they're a hard-nosed team, and I think especially the coaching change, that characteristic is even more apparent. We're prepared for a battle."

New Dynamo coach Owen Coyle replaces long-time Houston mainstay Dominic Kinnear, who led the team's relocation from San Jose and returned to the bay area as head coach of the Earthquakes in the offseason. Add to that new general manager Matt Jordan, and the club's front office and technical staff is among the most changed in Major League Soccer — which may have contributed to the team's 6-7-6 record, just one point ahead of RSL at 24 points.

"I think there are a lot of new faces on their team, and it's taking some time to jell," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said of the Dynamo. "But what hasn't changed is the quality. They still have some great leadership and some extremely talented players. I think there are a lot of teams still putting their stuff together, and it magically doesn't just happen. You need some time."

Javier Morales battles for the ball against the Houston Dynamo in an MLS match in 2013 at Rio Tinto Stadium. (File photo: Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)

Among those talented players is rising Mexican international superstar Erick "Cubo" Torres. The former Chivas USA product signed a designated player deal with the Dynamo in December after the former L.A. franchise ceased operations. Torres, who is not expected to play Saturday, joined his teammates Friday for the first time after spending the spring on loan with Chivas de Guadalajara, and he will travel with the club to Salt Lake City.

Torres flew into Houston on Thursday evening after helping Chivas through the Liga MX Clausura season and Copa MX. His return to MLS was delayed by allegations of sexual assault in Guadalajara in April, but Mexican authorities cleared Torres and closed the case in early June. On Thursday, the league office cleared Torres to begin play immediately and issued a statement that included its own independent review of the investigation.

"Based on the conclusions reached by the District Attorney of Guadalajara and the Attorney General for the State of Jalisco to close the investigation, along with the review conducted by MLS's independent legal firm in Mexico, the league is clearing Mr. Torres to play for the Houston Dynamo," a portion of the league statement read.

Cassar said he understands why Torres wouldn't be available to start this weekend with such little time with his new team. But he wouldn't be surprised to see the young Mexican phenom on the bench, either.

"His quality in the box is outstanding," Cassar said of Torres, who scored 15 goals in 29 starts last year with Chivas USA. "He has an ability to make intelligent runs and get himself free. He's not one who gets eight chances a game; he usually gets two to three and puts them away. He's lethal with his finish."

Official reports from Houston hint that Torres is more likely to make his Dynamo debut against Sporting Kansas City in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal Tuesday. The winner of that game will host RSL in the semifinals Aug. 11.

Regardless of Torres' availability, the Dynamo still count on starters like leading scorers Will Bruin and Giles Barnes, who have combined for 14 goals in 2015.

The additions of Houston, as well as travel partner Kansas City, to the West make a crowded field of potential playoff teams even more crowded.

"It makes it even tougher," Cassar said. "They're very well organized, work extremely hard and it's another hard game. When you go there, it's another hot game."

SCHULER HEALTH CAUTION — RSL defender Chris Schuler, who recently returned from in-season knee surgery, spent Friday's's training session at Rio Tinto Stadium on the stationary bike. But Cassar said the treatment was simply precautionary after the hulking center back's surgery to repair a torn meniscus in April.

"He's played a lot for the injury he's had, and we have to be cautious of it," Cassar added.

If Schuler can't go at 100 percent, he may have an easy replacement in the starting lineup. Elias Vasquez arrived in Salt Lake City late Thursday night after Guatemala was eliminated from the Gold Cup, and he reported to training Friday.

Cassar said Vasquez is "putting himself in contention" for selection Saturday.

"It's very good to have Elias back," Beltran said. "He's a great teammate, a great player, and we're glad to have him back. But obviously, I was rooting for Guatemala to have a lot of success."

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SAUCEDO READY TO GO — RSL recalled Park City native Sebastian "Bofo" Saucedo early from training camp with the U.S. U-18 national team, and the youngster appeared on the bench for the club's 1-0 win over L.A. Galaxy in the Open Cup on Tuesday. Cassar said Saucedo likely would have been RSL's next attacking option if the game had gone into extra time and the local side needed a late winner.

"We wanted to have as many attacking options as we could," the coach added. "That's a game that could've easily gone 120 minutes, and we only used two subs. If we needed another one in the attack, it would've been him, probably."

PLAYER SALARIES RELEASED — The MLS Players' Union released salary information Friday, based on surveys done before July 15. RSL captain and new designated player Kyle Beckerman is the club's top wage at $700,000 in guaranteed compensation.

Fellow DP Sebastian Jaime is on a $200,000 base salary, and young DP Joao Plata's base salary is valued at $150,000, according to the union. Much of the two designated players' allocated salaries are reportedly tied up in transfer fees to their former clubs.

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando has the second-highest salary at RSL at $350,000 base salary, followed by Javier Morales at $300,000 in guaranteed compensation.

Orlando City's Kaka is the highest paid player in the league with a base salary of $6.6 million per year. Los Angeles' Steven Gerrard is guaranteed $6.3 million, and New York City's Frank Lampard is set at $6 million, according to the union.

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