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Sandy • Gritty, physical, no-nonsense. That's Dom Dwyer, the breathing embodiment of Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake's chief rival in Major League Soccer. The 26-year-old English striker still remains on an upward trajectory from his rise as a backup forward in 2013 to one of the league's most-complete goal-scorers.

"He is definitely one of those guys," said RSL defender Chris Wingert. "He can hold it up, he's an absolute nuisance for the center backs and he's a great goal-scorer as he's proven a few years in a row."

So it's no secret that a chunk of RSL's outline Sunday afternoon against Sporting KC at Rio Tinto Stadium is to never lose sight of Dwyer. The club's leading scorer in 2016, Dwyer has 16 goals and three assists in 29 league starts this season. While his career continues to blossom, he hasn't enjoyed the sort of success against RSL as he's had against other clubs in MLS.

Dwyer, who has 52 goals since 2013, has just two goals in his career against RSL, both of which have come in losses. He scored in RSL's 3-1 win at Sporting KC in May and in Sandy last summer in a 2-1 loss at Rio Tinto Stadium.

"If you stop him one time, he's just going to keep going at you," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "You have to focus for the entire game. On top of that, he's lethal with his finishing. Typically, it doesn't take him a ton of chances to get his goals. His efficiency is really good, and on top of that, he can [score] several different ways."

A win against Sporting KC Sunday not only clinches a postseason berth for RSL, but would put sixth-place Kansas City on more uncertain ground.

Much-needed break

Still stewing over the 2-1 loss at San Jose on Oct. 1, a beat-up RSL group is taking advantage of the FIFA international window to recuperate. Riding a five-game winless streak, the break has allowed players to nurse bumps and bruises accumulated over the lengthy MLS calendar.

"[They were] able to play, but not at 100 percent and I think this gives us time to heal those and to get to 100 percent," Cassar said. "Also, when you're at 100 percent, you're able to work on your craft."

Midfielder Javier Morales said the break served RSL well, but with the club's playoff hopes still on the line, games of this magnitude boils down to finer details. RSL, he continued, must be ready to adapt its approach to secure what could be a defining match for this team.

"We have to be ready for change, little things new to the game and try to surprise the other team," he said.

Sunny still sitting on yellows

RSL midfielder Sunday Stephen is nearing the end of his yellow-card warning, but one more caution and the 28-year-old defensive midfielder would be suspended for RSL's 2016 regular-season finale at Seattle on Sunday, Oct. 23. The starter has been on this warning since before the multiple facial fractures he suffered in a match on June 22.

"He's been playing the last few games and understands that," Cassar said. "It's just a reminder, but at the end of the day, you've got to play the game at the right time. If it's an earned yellow, it's OK, if it's a silly yellow, then that's not acceptable."

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Sporting KC at RSL

Sunday, 3 p.m.

TV • KMYU