Crew to find out how deep roster is

The Crew needed no explanation after Saturday’s win against FC Cincinnati at the MLS is Back tournament to understand that the next two group-stage games would be a completely different challenge against two 2019 playoff teams.

Given the injury situation, that challenge extends to the coaching staff in putting out a lineup competent enough to get a result while limiting risk of injury of a team playing on short rest.

“If you can get through on this game, then you can look at that third game a little bit and you’re not under quite as much pressure to get

through,” coach Caleb Porter said. “It’s still a regular-season game so you want to get points, but it would be nice to be in that position for the third game.”

The Crew plays the New York Red Bulls at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, at 10:30 p.m. Thursday on FS1. The club’s final group stage game takes place at 8 p.m. Tuesday against Atlanta United.

The depth that Porter and the front office laboriously built in the offseason will be relied on to send the Crew through to the knockout stages Thursday. Starting center back Vito Wormgoor is out for the remainder of the tournament with an ankle injury, and Porter said the four players who missed the first game with injuries likely would not be ready to play Thursday.

Porter would prefer not to use players in back-to-back 90-minute games after such a long period without games. With injuries, he might not have a choice.

With left backs Milton Valenzuela and Waylon Francis possibly missing a second straight game, Chris Cadden is the only option off the bench to replace outside backs Hector Jimenez and Harrison Afful. Porter could decide to play a center back at outside back if he chooses not to give Jimenez or Afful a second straight 90-minute game.

Possibly not having winger Pedro Santos for a second game will also make managing the lineup more difficult. Santos can play the central midfield role for Lucas Zelarayan, who had a goal and two assists against FC Cincinnati.

Forward Gyasi Zardes played the entire game, as well, which means his appearance Thursday will likely be limited. If neither Fanendo Adi nor Jordan Hamilton is available to step in at forward, first-round draft pick Miguel Berry could make his first career appearance.

With a four-goal lead by the 60th minute Saturday, Porter was at least able to take out Zelarayan and Luis Diaz in the 61st minute and preserve some of their energy. Playing them for 90 minutes in this match, however, could limit them for the final groupstage game.

The same applies to Artur and Darlington Nagbe, who experienced cramps after the 75th minute Saturday and were taken out. Porter has to balance having them on the field to preserve the spine of the defense and the attack, as well as not burning them out.

“We certainly don’t want to have them play again and get injured,” Porter said. “But at the same time, if we don’t play them, then we’re not quite as strong. Yet we do have some depth and we do have to trust our depth.”

In an interview provided by the Crew, midfielder Youness Mokhtar seemed confident that the team is more fit than others, which would indicate that several players could play extended minutes if needed.

With the way the Red Bulls like to press and capitalize off opponents’ mistakes, whoever is on the field for the Crew will have to be comfortable on the ball under pressure.

“We know what they’re going to do,” Mokhtar said. “We know what to do to play out of the press and play our game.” jmyers@dispatch.com @_jcmyers