Real Salt Lake putting it all on the line in Toronto

SANDY — Taking gambles is becoming a natural thing for Real Salt Lake. Assuming travel-related issues don't provide too much of a distraction, this is a team going into Toronto with the mentality of a high-stakes poker player.

RSL is approaching its CONCACAF Champions League match against Toronto FC today with an all-or-nothing attitude. If Salt Lake can come away with a draw or win, it will equal advancement to the knockout stages of the tournament, starting in February, for the defending MLS Cup champions.

"We're going to put all of our cards on the table for that game," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "We feel like that's one we have to get a result in to wrap up this Champions League stuff so we can turn our focus to the Supporters' Shield and the playoffs."

A positive result might offer some relief to a team that has been challenged to test its depth to the fullest over the past few weeks. And it will offer a positive vibe that has faded away during travel related woes that arose on Sunday.

A planned Sunday arrival in Toronto was delayed when the team missed a connecting flight to Atlanta after their plane departed an hour late from Salt Lake City International Airport and arrived an hour late to Atlanta.

It stranded nearly half the team in Atlanta overnight on Sunday and forced Kreis to cancel a planned Monday practice in Toronto.

The added travel fatigue is the last thing needed for a group of players already wearied by last week's trip to Panama to play Arabe Unido and Saturday's match against the Colorado Rapids.

Energy will likely be in short supply at BMO Field, but RSL is determined to give the best effort possible with so much on the line.

"We're going to be tired," midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "It's going to be a lot to ask — a mountain to climb. But there's a game to play, so we're going to try to go win it."

Fresh faces dotted the starting 11 on Saturday against Colorado, but that will probably not be the case this time around. Several rotation regulars who rested or played limited minutes against the Rapids will resume their usual roles against Toronto.

Kreis admitted it had been a challenge striking a balance between dividing playing time for CONCACAF games and MLS games.

"It's forced us to use a lot of players," Kreis said. "In prior years, we haven't been able to take those risks and gambles because we've been very focused on trying to make sure our team makes the playoffs every year."

But Kreis also thinks a continued willingness of younger players to step up when given a chance has made a huge difference in keeping his team as fresh as possible in these circumstances.

"This year, we've put ourselves in fantastic position and we're afforded the opportunity to play very strong lineups in the CONCACAF Champions League and that forces us to play some newer guys in some of the league matches," Kreis said. "But they're rewarding us for some of those gambles."

CONCACAF Champions League

RSL at Toronto FC

Today at 6 p.m.

TV: Fox Soccer Channel

Radio: 700 AM

e-mail: jcoon@desnews.com