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Sandy • Before what could've been the first day of the last week of training during its 2016 season, Jeff Cassar gathered his players and addressed much of what has transpired since Real Salt Lake very first convened in late January for entrance physicals. The RSL head coach said that yes, his group remains frustrated with its lack of production across the board as of late. His advice: Don't lose sight of what led to this dramatic weekend.

"Now we have everything in front of us," Cassar said. "I just wanted to motivate the guys to feel good."

Last week of the regular season. Fourth place in the Western Conference, sitting on 46 points, three days away from boarding a flight to Seattle where the upstart Sounders await RSL, hoping for their own bit of fall fortune Sunday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. RSL's position, despite some lingering flaws exposed the last two months, is one to be proud of, Cassar told his team. A knockout round postseason game is still in play with a win or a draw.

"Now we're going to need a complete game to finish exactly where we want to be," Cassar said.

RSL's 27 playoff scenarios were so politely mapped out by RSL PR staffer Matt Gaschk earlier this week. If you so dare, dive in, try and imagine the possibilities of how the dust will settle come Sunday afternoon. But it's been over four years since RSL last won in Seattle. The club is riding a five-game losing streak there in which it has conceded 14 goals — that's nearly three goals allowed a game.

Asked if this game will demand more of a defensive presence from wide forwards Joao Plata and Burrito Martinez, Cassar a road game of this magnitude demands each player provide as much attention to that side of the ball as the attacking portion.

"It needs to be everyone," he said. "Once it gets past them, they've got to turn and pressure back. Are we going to just pack it in? Probably not. Because you can't do that for 90 minutes, but we'll come up with a good game-plan, have everybody on board, but everyone has to play defense in these kinds of games."

No Movsisyan at training

RSL forward Yura Movsisyan was absent from Wednesday's training session, but is expected to return Thursday. The 29-year-old forward was subbed off earlier than anticipated in Sunday's 0-0 home draw against Sporting Kansas City after his bruised left heel was knocked by defender Matt Besler.

"It's day-to-day because he'll be out at training tomorrow," Cassar said. "We're just trying to minimize the impact on his heel."

Movsisyan has nine goals and three assists in 2016, but has been slowed since suffering the injury in training in late September. His start against Kansas City was his first since the team's only home loss of the year against Houston on Sept. 17.

Sunny or Luke?

The third midfield role has been a flex position for RSL as of late. So will Cassar go with midfielder Sunday Stephen or Luke Mulholland Sunday in Seattle? Wait and find out, he said.

"We'll see what it's going to look like at the end of the week," Cassar explained. "I'm not going to say what combination I'm going to go with now because it'd be foolish for Seattle to know what we're going to do. We'll be working on it throughout the week and we'll all be on the same page once the game comes on Sunday."

The two have alternated starts since Sunny's return to a full bill of health in early September. The Nigerian midfielder started in Portland on Sept. 10, received one-game suspension by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for contact on Timbers forward Fanendo Adi, which was served in RSL's loss to Houston the following weekend. Sunny returned to the lineup in RSL's 2-1 road loss at San Jose, but Mulholland has started the last three home matches against Houston, FC Dallas and most recently Kansas City.

Grabavoy will hang 'em up

In true Ned Grabavoy fashion, the longtime RSL midfielder quietly announced the 2016 season would be his last in MLS on Tuesday. The 33-year-old midfielder now with the Portland Timbers will retire when Portland's season comes to an end. A two-time MLS Cup champion — once with RSL in 2009 — Grabavoy has made 301 league appearances and 225 starts for six different clubs.

Grabavoy made 159 appearances in six seasons at RSL and was a staple of team's run to four respective Cup finals until his departure in Dec. 2014 when New York City FC selected him in the 2014 Expansion Draft.

"I knew before [it was announced], but we talked a little bit about it," said RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said. "I just wanted to make sure he was sure about it. But it's a sad day. I know he's got other plans in mind and other challenges he wants to tackle. All the best to him. We miss him here."

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani