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Sandy • Mike Petke subtly trolled a question posed to him this week about the next opponent in the path of his ongoing revamp at Real Salt Lake. So what exactly does the RSL coach see in FC Dallas?

"A team that's from Texas," Petke quipped. "That should be getting larger crowds."

FC Dallas unquestionably is one of the best shows in Major League Soccer. So much so that even the casual follower of the league knows that the crowds at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, need to be filled to the brim more often. Instead, the last unbeaten team in MLS at 4-0-3 strolls into Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night to face an RSL side still in search of a groove.

"The mentality has to be that we're the home team, and we're going stamp our style and what we want to do onto them from the start" Petke said this week. "Can't be the other way around."

It's also easier said than done against arguably the most well-rounded roster in MLS.

FC Dallas won the U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters' Shield a year ago, and Dallas might've had a legit shot at an MLS Cup title if not for a season-ending Achilles tear to star midfielder Mauro Diaz two weeks before the playoffs began. And if last year's run wasn't impressive enough, the front office strengthened what was already a stacked team this offseason.

The signings of winger Roland Lamah, forward Cristian Colmán, defender Hernan Grana and former RSL midfielder Javier Morales have rounded out a young core of players who helped spur FC Dallas to a memorable season a year ago. Coach Oscar Pareja obviously has his sights set a little higher.

"Their coach has found a way to really have them buy into his philosophy," RSL defender Chris Wingert said. "They have hard-working guys that are surrounded by a few special players, who are real difference-makers. That is the makeup of most of the best teams in this league and has been for a while."

It starts with a couple of pairings in the center of the field. FC Dallas not only has one of the top center back tandems in MLS in Walker Zimmerman and Matt Hedges, but it also has a pair of two-way midfielders in Designated Player Carlos Gruezo and 21-year-old homegrown Kellyn Acosta.

"Oscar has built that team up very well through their academy and through great scouting and getting players that fit his system," Petke said. "Dangerous going forward on the counterattack, very capable all of them with the ball."

Dallas' bid to make the CONCACAF Champions League final came up short in the semifinal round against eventual champion Pachuca FC from Mexico. Despite being dealt that early bout of disappointment, FC Dallas is humming along under Pareja.

"He sees everything," Morales said this week about his new coach. "Every week we have different trainings, plans for the game, we adapt to different teams and everyone on the field knows what he has to do every week. He gives us the information that we need to beat teams."

ckamrani@sltrib.com Twitter: @chriskamrani —

FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake

P At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy

Kickoff • 7:30 p.m.

TV • KMYU

Radio • 700 AM

Records • RSL 2-5-2, FC Dallas 4-0-3

Last meeting • 0-0 draw (Sept. 24, 2016 at Rio Tinto Stadium)

About RSL • RSL will be without goalkeeper Nick Rimando (hamstring) for the second straight week. … Captain Kyle Beckerman (calf) remains day-to-day after missing last week's loss at Sporting Kansas City. … Defender Aaron Maund (hamstring) returned to training this week and could play. … RSL has been outscored 6-1 in its back-to-back losses. … Entering this weekend, RSL has given up the second-most goals in the league (15).

About FC Dallas • FC Dallas, the last unbeaten team remaining in MLS, has conceded just five goals in seven matches so far in 2017. … Midfielder Mauro Diaz (Achilles) inches closer to a return after his season-ending injury last October. … Forward Maxi Urruti leads FC Dallas in goals scored with four this season. … Of Dallas' 10 goals scored this season, they have come from six different players.