Vancouver Whitecaps (1-5-3, 11th West) at Colorado Rapids (0-7-2), 12th West)

Friday, 6 p.m. PT, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

TV: TSN Radio: TSN1040

KEY MATCHUP

Doneil Henry has been a rock at the back for the Caps, making the Week 9 MLS starting XI on the strength of 6.0 clearances (fifth overall) and 2.3 interceptions per game (10th). He’ll be tasked with guarding his former teammate, Kei Kamara, who is once again dominating aerially (4.3 wins per game, fourth overall).

Henry has two headed goals this year — the same number as Kamara — but the Sierra Leone international isn’t about to let the Whitecaps centre-back take away his title of The Headmaster.

“There’s no way,” Kamara laughed. “No way.

“He’s a beast. He’s a guy I’ve known since his early days in Toronto. Being around him, being an older brother to him … it’s great to be around him. But to be honest with you, we’ve had conversations since the season started, and my thing to him was, ‘Everything I’ve said to you, put it to the side, because Friday, it’s going to be a different beast you’re going to have to be worried about.’ ”

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Forward firepower

The Rapids have been decent offensively, with Kamara scoring five of their middle-of-the-pack 12 goals, while the Caps have been near-barren in scoring. On seven goals, only Atlanta (6) ranks below Vancouver. The question now is: can Fredy Montero or Joaquin Ardaiz off the bench score their first from open play against a defence that’s conceded an MLS-worst 24 goals?

Forwards Montero and Ardaiz, and wingers Lass Bangoura and Lucas Venuto, have combined for just two goals and no assists between them.

2. Playing keep-away

The Whitecaps won the possession battle for the first time this season against Philadelphia (51.6 per cent) but still rank 22nd out of 24 teams with 45.9. But they’re going up against a team that, while having the lion’s share of the ball four times this season, doesn’t rank much higher, sitting 17th in MLS (47.2).

The Rapids are suspect defensively when they’re not in a full-on defensive posture, and their 13.8 tackles per game are last in the league.

3. Altitude attitude

Commerce City, Colo., is 1.5 km above sea level, meaning there is about four per cent less oxygen than in Vancouver. The Whitecaps are continuing their high-altitude tradition of trying to fly in just 24 hours before the game, as the effects of oxygen deprivation don’t kick in until after a day.

Does it work? Well, the Caps are undefeated in their last three games in Colorado (2-0-1) but only have a 3-7-1 record lifetime in the mile-high region.

4. Disappointing DPs

Between Montero, Ardaiz and Inbeom Hwang, the Whitecaps have gotten two goals from their designated players. That’s at least better than Colorado, who don’t have a DP in the field. They paid Shkëlzen Gashi $1.7 million to go away in March, leaving Tim Howard — the league’s highest-paid goalkeeper — as their lone DP. Howard is 16th in MLS with 2.8 saves per game, two spots behind Vancouver’s Maxime Crepeau (2.9).

5. Defend the six

The Whitecaps are giving up a league-high 19.8 shots on the road, even with the stellar play of Erik Godoy and Henry in the middle, who have combined for 99 clearances — second-most in MLS as a pair. The Rapids have scored 11 of their 12 goals from on or inside the six-yard box — and are second in MLS in accurate crosses per game (5.3) — meaning the CBs and Max Crepeau will stake a claim to that turf.

LISTEN: We cover the latest Whitecaps result and debut our new feature—the MLS game of the week. We also discuss the inevitable end to the Premier League race. We preview Liverpool’s chances against Barca (little did we know what Messi would do!) and answer your questions from Twitter.

PREDICTED STARTING XIs

Whitecaps (4-3-3)

Venuto – Montero – Bangoura

Hwang – Erice – Teibert

Adnan – Henry – Godoy – Nerwinski

Goalkeeper: Crepeau

Rapids (4-3-1-2)

Kamara – Rubio

Feilhaber

Acost – Price – Mezquida

Vines – Wynne – Smith – Rosenberry

Goalkeeper: Howard

SICK BAY

Whitecaps: (Out) Michael Baldisimo (ankle), Jasser Khmiri (knee), David Norman Jr. (foot), Yordy Reyna (hamstring)

Rapids: (Out) Kortne Ford (knee)