Real Salt Lake has played three games this season, and Kreis has fielded different starting lineups in each one.

The RSL head coach believes starting jobs should be earned during practices and matches and not an assumed designation.

"It's just going to be an honest system. If you don't play well, then there is going to be a guy that is behind you that is looking to take your spot and he is going to get an opportunity," Kreis said. "So it will be the same thing now. There is nobody out there that owns any spots."

Nathan Sturgis was the latest benefactor of Kreis' performance-based system. The midfielder earned his first start and playing time of the season in place of Carey Talley last weekend, and helped RSL (1-1-1) record its first victory with a 4-0 win over D.C. United.

"We know that he is quality and we were wanting to get him an opportunity somewhere on the field," Kreis said of Sturgis, a member of the Under-20 World Cup and Under-23 national teams. "It just happened that spot opened up where there was a player that we didn't feel had a particularly strong game, so we needed to look at somebody else there."

Whether Sturgis retains the starting role on Saturday when RSL plays Toronto FC (1-2) in Canada will be open to competition. It's a battle the 5-foot-10, 150-pound Floridian isn't shrinking from.

"You always want to be on the field as much as possible, and it's definitely something that is really important," said Sturgis, who was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy last season. "I just have to try my best in practice and hope to start again this weekend."

RSL defender Nat Borchers appreciates the subtle yet dynamic way Sturgis impacts the game with his presence on the field.

"Nate is a very honest player," Borchers said. "He is not going to try to do anything that looks pretty or impresses. He is smooth on the ball, his passing is excellent and he can tackle very hard."

Sturgis' quiet nature is just as understated as his game. But Borchers believes the 20-year-old might come out of his shell in the coming months.

"He is a young guy, so I think if you give him some time he will be out there shouting and giving orders pretty soon," Borchers said.

Presidential visit

On his first official day as RSL president, Bill Manning attended the end of a wind-stricken practice on Tuesday afternoon at XanGo Field. Manning was joined by former interim president Alan Pace and general manager Garth Lagerwey.