Riding a rare two-game winning streak, the team takes on the Houston Dynamo tonight in the first of three games on the longest road trip in franchise history, an eight-day Eastern tour that figures to decide whether it can continue to harbor its faint hopes of finally making the Major League Soccer playoffs.

"It's going to be huge," midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "It could be a make-or-break week. It's crazy to say a make-or-break week on the road, but that's what it is, so we have to go get it done."

Not only will RSL take on the defending champion Dynamo, no doubt eager to avenge a stunning loss in Salt Lake City a month ago, but also league-leading D.C. United and Toronto FC next week. And without some strong results - say, at least two victories? - the team probably won't have any chance of making up enough ground in its final six games to reach the postseason.

"We need to get three good results here," defender Eddie Pope said.

Certainly, RSL is looking as strong as it has all season, coming off its remarkable come-from-behind victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend that snapped a 14-game winless streak on the road and put them one win away from assuring they will not tie the league record for fewest victories in a season.

But even though the Dynamo are missing several key players to injury and slumping - they have won just once in their past seven league games - coaches and players expect a challenge at Robertson Stadium.

"We can expect a Houston team that was very aggravated with the result they had here," coach Jason Kreis said. "So I expect a team that's coming to, in their minds, try to set the record straight."

The Dynamo are expected again to be without injured midfielder Brad Davis, as well as perhaps striker Brian Ching, midfielder Stuart Holden and defender Craig Waibel - all of whom started the last game against RSL. Reserve midfielder Corey Ashe also could miss the game, along with reserve strikers Paul Dalglish and Chris Wondolowski.

But RSL continues to be without recently acquired midfielder Nathan Sturgis, who suffered a calf injury in a loss to Chicago last month and now appears at risk of missing the rest of the season.

One of the key players in RSL's rebuilding effort, Sturgis suffered what was originally believed to be simply a bruise, but took a "turn for the very, very worst," Kreis said. Now, doctors are being "very cautious" with him, and saying he might need another three weeks before he even can return to training. That would make him available for no more than the final three games.

Meanwhile, his teammates insist they're focused on coming home from their long trip still harboring a shot at the playoffs.

"We're going with the mentality that we need to win," said striker Robbie Findley, whose goal in the 84th minute gave RSL the 1-0 victory in the last meeting with the Dynamo. "That's what needs to happen, to make the playoffs. We're coming off two good wins, so if we can get at least six points out of this trip, we'll be pretty good."

mcl@sltrib.com

RSL at Houston At Robertson Stadium

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. MDT TV: None Radio: 103.1 FM, 1600 AM (Español) Records: RSL 4-11-6, Houston 11-7-6 Series: Tied, 2-2-1 Last Meeting: RSL, 1-0 (Aug. 4)