Key players to rest against Salt Lake

There will be two hungry MLS teams on the Saputo Stadium pitch when the Impact face Real Salt Lake Saturday (7:30 p.m., TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio).

Both teams are below the red line that separates the six teams in each conference that will go on to the playoffs from the have-nots.

But both teams have been on a roll lately as they battle for playoff spots.

The Impact are on a three-game winning streak after shutting out the Chicago Fire 3-0 Wednesday. The win moved Montreal to within two points of a playoff position. The Impact have an added advantage because they have been playing well at home, with six wins in their last seven home games. They have outscored the opposition 15-5 in those games.

Real Salt Lake is only three points out of a playoff spot in the West, but there’s a greater sense of desperation in Utah because most of the teams they are chasing have games in hand. Real Salt Lake has lost only once in their last six starts, but have had difficulty winning, with a 2-1-3 record.

The Impact seem to have found their identity. In the beginning of the season, coach Mauro Biello’s crew emphasized a possession game, but they have enjoyed their recent success by combining defence with a punishing counterattack.

In the Chicago game, the Fire controlled the ball for 66 per cent of the game but Biello said that figure is deceiving.

“A lot of their possession was in the back third,” said Biello. “We’re playing a more compact defensive game and we didn’t give them many chances in the final third.”

This will be the Impact’s third game in eight days and Biello said he will allow some of his key players to rest.

“We have to be able to move guys in and out and give them rest when they need it,” said Biello. “That’s why we have 28 guys on our roster.”

While he was short on specifics, he said there would be changes in the starting 11 as well as the 18 players who are dressed for the game.

Two players who should see a greater role are striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel and defender Kyle Fisher. The latter has played recently as a late-game defensive replacement, but will probably get a start Saturday.

Fisher agreed with a suggestion that the Impact play better with their backs against the wall.

“It’s very similar to last season when we put on a push and, I wasn’t here the year before, but I understand it was the same situation,” said Fisher.