Real Salt Lake: Team proving it has depth necessary to compete

Months and months ago, long before the CONCACAF Champions League schedule was released, Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis was genuinely worried about how his team would handle a ridiculously busy September schedule.

At the time, he wasn't sure how RSL's depth would evolve and wondered how he would possibly juggle line-ups from game to game and keep players fresh.

The predicament somewhat sorted itself out.

"I just had so many questions how the young guys were going to do, even the returning players we had, a lot of them hadn't played enough matches for me to feel comfortable with them," said Kreis. "Now I think it's a little easier than I thought it was going to be because we've had so many players step in and do great jobs."

Kreis is prepared to back up that assertion this week. Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert and Andy Williams did not accompany RSL to Panama for Wednesday's match at Arabe Unido in an effort to rest them for the stretch run of the regular season.

"Borchers in particular hasn't had a rest all year. We knew there was going to be a time he needed it. Chris Wingert's been playing a lot of matches recently and we're going to need a lot of him going forward," said Kreis. "We just felt like if we weren't going to start those guys we needed to leave them here and rest them."

Javier Morales and new striker Paulo Junior won't accompany the team either because of injuries.

RSL is hoping to have all five available this Saturday in a league match against rival Colorado at Rio Tinto Stadium. For those who left Salt Lake City International Airport bound for Panama on Monday morning, the Rocky Mountain Cup is the last thing on their mind.

"In our minds we're not even thinking about that right now. Then when we get back Thursday it's getting back to league mode and concentrate on what we're doing there," said midfielder Ned Grabavoy.

The coaching staff's decision to leave Borchers at home seems like a perfect opportunity for rookie Chris Schuler to prove his dominant performance in Seattle was no fluke. The athletic 6-foot-4 center back turned heads across the league two weeks ago by playing an outstanding match in RSL's scoreless draw against the Sounders. Not once did he resemble a player making his MLS debut.

RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said he's very comfortable with Schuler getting the starting nod.

"If there was any questions about him before, the Seattle game erased them all," said Beckerman.