STRENGTHS: Even though preseason wins don't mean anything once the regular season rolls around, Columbus' 9-1-3 record this preseason does indicate that Schmid's rebuilding project appears to be heading in the right direction. A healthy Hejduk is no doubt helping. The tremendously fit fullback tore his ACL just a week after being named to the U.S. World Cup roster last year, but he's nearing 100 percent with the season just around the corner. Getting striker Herron from Chicago should help the Crew improve upon its league-low 30 goals last year.

CONCERNS: How many dangerous free-kick opportunities will O'Rourke surrender with his reckless tackles in the midfield? How many games will Pierce miss because of injuries? Will Gaven and Danny Szetela ever live up to expectations? Can Schmid make it all come together seamlessly? These questions will definitely be answered throughout the season, but the Crew will likely teeter on the edge of that last playoff spot all year.

6. Kansas City Wizards

2006 RECORD: 10-14-8 (38 points)

CONFERENCE FINISH: Fifth

COACH: Curt Onalfo (first season)

FIRST-CHOICE STARTING 11: Kevin Hartman (K), Jose Burciaga Jr. (D), Jimmy Conrad (D), Nick Garcia (D), Jack Jewsbury (D), Kerry Zavagnin (M), Will John (M), Davy Arnaud (M), Sasha Victorine (M), Eddie Johnson (F), Scott Sealy (F)

STRENGTHS: Defensively, having U.S. National Team stud Conrad is a great place to start, not to mention solid defenders Garcia and Burciaga Jr. as well. Zavagnin is rock solid at holding midfield, and he's surrounded by some pretty decent talent. The addition of Hartman from the Galaxy is an upgrade from Bo Oshonyi at the keeper position, but not by much.

CONCERNS: It's hard to figure out how this team missed the playoffs last year with all the offensive talent on the roster. At the end of the day, it cost coach Bob Gansler his job. It's not going to be any easier for first-year coach Onalfo to get this team headed in the right direction. Johnson is in a major scoring rut and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight. It's highly unlikely that Sealy is going to pick up the scoring slack either. In the midfield, the team lacks a creative spark plug, and that alone should have the Wizards on the outside looking in for a third straight year.

7. Toronto FC

2006 RECORD: N/A

CONFERENCE FINISH: N/A

COACH: Mo Johnston (first season)

FIRST-CHOICE STARTING 11: Greg Sutton (K), Andrew Boyens (D), Adam Braz (D), Jim Brennan (D), Chris Pozniak (D), Ronnie O'Brien (M), Jose Cancela (M), Richard Mulrooney (M), Loes Andrade (M), Alecko Eskandarian (F), Edson Buddle (F)

STRENGTHS: Expansion side Toronto FC has plenty to be optimistic about. It acquired several talented players through various methods in the offseason and should feature a pretty talented starting 11 on opening day. If O'Brien and Mulrooney mesh well together in the midfield, and Eskandarian and Buddle click up top, Toronto should be a fairly entertaining team to watch. The players can also expect tremendous fan support all year. Toronto's new soccer-specific stadium seats 20,000 fans, and the club sold out the 14,000 season tickets it allotted to season-ticket sales.

CONCERNS: Depth, without a doubt. Two years ago, expansion sides Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA struggled mightily because they had no depth. That's probably going to happen to Toronto as the year wears on once injuries, suspensions and national team call-ups become an issue. Toronto is limited by the number of Americans it can have on its roster, which should negatively impact its depth as well.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com