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Fire-Real Salt Lake Preview

Sep 11, 2009 - 11:54 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Chicago (10-6-8) at Real Salt Lake (9-9-6), 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Fire are in position to move atop the MLS standings. Getting Brian McBride back from injury earlier than expected could provide a lift.

The Fire are expected to have their top scorer available when they visit Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.

Chicago (10-6-8) is second in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Columbus and two back of West-leading Houston for the overall league lead. The Crew hosts the Dynamo on Sunday, so the Fire could move past one or both teams with a victory.

They received a boost to their chances Thursday, when they learned McBride would be available against Salt Lake (9-9-6). The former U.S. national team star forward underwent shoulder surgery July 17 and was expected to miss for 3-4 months.

"He's in full go," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "He's looking good. We are still being cautious, and working on his fitness and getting his soccer sharpness back. We want to make sure we put him in situations, with the shoulder and bicep, that he has some contact. There is a chance (he would be available to play) this weekend.

"If anybody can come back from this, it's Brian. He's a warrior, a guy you knew would fight to get back on the field."

McBride leads Chicago with six goals in 16 games after netting five in 11 last year following four seasons with Fulham FC of England's Premier League.

If McBride is unable to start, the Fire could opt to use Patrick Nyarko up top. The forward, who was drafted seventh overall out of Virginia Tech in the 2008 SuperDraft, has four goals but hasn't scored in five games since hitting the back of the net in the 76th minute of a 1-0 home win over RSL on Aug. 1.

The Fire, who went 4-3-1 without McBride, are hoping a 13-day layoff can help them rebound from a 1-0 loss to visiting D.C. on Aug. 29.

"It has been a long season, and any time you can give some guys a few days off, to get away from soccer and come back hungry, it comes at a good time," Hamlett told the Fire's official Web site.

Chicago is 5-1-3 all-time against Salt Lake, including 2-1-1 on the road.

RSL is tied with New England and Chivas USA for the fourth and final wild-card position, while also sitting one point behind seventh-place Seattle.

"We can't kid ourselves," midfielder Will Johnson told Real's official Web site. "There's still a lot of work to do."

Salt Lake is looking for a third consecutive win after beating Kansas City 1-0 on Aug. 29, three days after a 4-0 victory over Chivas USA.

Playing at home could help RSL, as it's 7-1-4 there while outscoring opponents 28-10. The club is unbeaten in seven games (4-0-3) at Rio Tinto Stadium since losing 2-0 to the Wizards on May 16.

RSL, though, will be without midfielders Kyle Beckerman and Ned Grabavoy, who are serving one-game suspensions for an accumulation of yellow cards.