In a league with so much parity and standings that have the potential to change quickly, where a team sits on the NASL table doesn't figure in much to how Ottawa Fury FC prepares for a match.

On paper, Ottawa was the easy underdog against the San Antonio Scorpions, who are now ahead of the Fury by 14 points. But Ottawa, knowing the home game was a chance to prove to its fans that this team had plenty of fight left in it, came out and turned in its most complete effort of the season in securing a 1-1 draw.

All that to say Fury FC coach Marc Dos Santos isn't expecting Indy Eleven to roll over and let Ottawa trounce them, despite the fact Fury's expansion cousins are the only side below Ottawa on the overall table.

Dos Santos rhymed off a few factors that would indicate Indy is going to be anything but an easy opponent Saturday, namely that they have yet to win at home despite averaging around 10,000 fans per game and are coming off a 5-1 pounding at the hands of Minnesota United.

"I think they're going to have blood in their eyes," Dos Santos said after the team trained Thursday, adding his players were "not even thinking about" the last time the two sides met, with Ottawa scoring a 4-2 victory on the strength of two goals from midfielder Tony Donatelli. "It's a new game and a new reality."

Dos Santos said he wasn't calling the draw against San Antonio a turning point for the team, saying the term has too broad an outlook.

"When you think about a turning point you're thinking about the future too much," he said. "(It's) saying hopefully it's going to turn around the rest of the season and in our locker room we don't think like that at the moment.

DOS SANTOS THANKS FANS

Dos Santos was so impressed with the Fury fan support last weekend at TD Place he penned an open letter to supporters expressing that appreciation.

While coaches and players trotted over to thank the official supporters groups for their usually raucous encouragement, Dos Santos wrote the encouragement from the crowd as a whole helped keep the team focused even after conceding a go-ahead goal in the 76th minute.

"Thanks to your incredible support, the team kept growing even facing adversity," wrote the coach. "It was incredible, after missing a penalty shot, how you kept chanting and supporting us. In that moment we all felt that we would be able to tie the game and maybe even get the full (three) points."

ANOTHER YOUNG STAR?

After Fury Academy player Haydn Bechthold was the only Canadian invited to participate in the Real Madrid Select Program in Spain recently, another young member of the Fury Academy is getting the chance of a lifetime.

Johnny Priori from the U14 side was spotted during a seven-on-seven tournament at the RA Centre, with the person who noticed him happening to be an Adidas rep affiliated with the prestigious Ajax Youth Academy, the primary youth program of soccer giants Ajax Amsterdam. The skilled teen helped his side to an undefeated season this year and a Super-Y League division title.

Priori, one of 36 North Americans invited and the only Canadian, leaves Friday for Holland and will spend a week training with the academy.

chris.hofley@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @chrishofley