This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sandy • News to absolutely no one: This Real Salt Lake roster was constructed specifically for this time of the year. It's been a reoccurring theme for the club, now preparing for its seventh-consecutive MLS Cup playoff appearance. Each season since 2008, after the elongated months of the regular-season come forth and eventually pass, RSL has been standing there at the finish line.

"Are we battle-hardened?" asked RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey. "Absolutely. If we're built for anything, we're built for the playoffs. We've grinded through the regular season, we've survived, now we're in and hopefully we can finish in the top three, but even if we can't, I really think we have a chance."

This year is different. RSL beat Chivas USA 2-0 Wednesday night in Sandy, improving to 15-8-11 and 56 points — one shy of the franchise record set in 2012. The first step of 2014 is over and done with, but entering the final week of the MLS season, RSL — like all other teams in the Western Conference — has only the slightest inkling who it could face in its playoff opener.

One thing is for certain: RSL's victory briefly launched the club back into the third spot out West, putting pressure on fourth-place FC Dallas to emerge victorious Saturday at home against Portland in order to steal the No. 3 seed. Should Dallas beat Portland, RSL would then host Vancouver, currently owners of the fifth spot, in the West's wild card match likely next Wednesday at Rio Tinto Stadium.

A Portland win or draw, however, gives RSL that desired third spot to avoid playing in an early elimination game before perhaps making its way toward Seattle and L.A. As a potential third seed, RSL must still wait for Saturday's result between the Sounders and Galaxy, both knotted at 61 points and pitted against one another in their regular-season conclusions at CenturyLink Field. One will hoist the Supporters' Shield trophy on the turf in Seattle, while the other will be the club RSL surrounds its game-plan around should it seal the third spot.

"In terms of the Seattle-L.A. matchup, take your pick," defender Chris Wingert said. "I think either way, it's going to be an incredibly tough challenge for us. Not only are they both great teams, but we have had great match-ups with both teams in the playoffs multiple times."

RSL coach Jeff Cassar said he'll be glued to TV on Saturday, notepad in hand, watching as many as three games and preparing for as many as four teams. The focus will be narrowed to Vancouver or Portland in the event the Whitecaps lose at home to Colorado and the Timbers win or draw in Dallas.

"Then we'll see where it goes from there," he said. "It's definitely not time to sit on the couch and relax. I'll be taking notes and preparing. Not rooting for anything. I'm just going to prepare my team the best that I can."

As expected, the waiting game is just beginning.

"For sure, once you get to the playoffs, everybody's got a chance," Lagerwey said. "I would say your best chance is to play fewer elimination games, so you'd rather avoid the wild card. That said, if we have to play the wild card, then we have a week, whereas everybody else would have three days."

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Western Conference playoff picture

1. Seattle Sounders, 61 points

2. L.A. Galaxy, 61 points

3. Real Salt Lake, 56 points

4. FC Dallas, 54 points

5. Vancouver Whitecaps, 47 points

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6. Portland Timbers, 46 points