After both teams struggled to disappointing finishes last year, the Colorado Rapids and New England Revolution turned to each other for help in 2010.
The clubs' January trade involved the swap of four players who will face their former teammates for the first time Saturday, as the Revolution kick off a string of three straight home matches.
Colorado (2-1-1) missed the playoffs for the third straight season in 2009, while the Revolution lost in the first round for the second year in a row.
One of the major offseason moves for each club was the Jan. 22 trade that sent midfielders Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson to the Rapids for goalkeeper Preston Burpo, defender Cory Gibbs and a draft pick.
Burpo, who has been playing a key role for the Revs (2-2-0) while goalie Matt Reis remains out following offseason surgeries, did not deny that there will be extra motivation against the Rapids.
"There's no question I'd like to see Colorado go home with zero points and us three," Burpo told MLS' official website. "To say that I don't want it a little bit more, I'd be kidding you. At the same time, this game has nothing to do with me. It's the Revolution against the Rapids. I just want to try and make a positive influence on the evening."
Larentowicz returns to Foxborough after making 111 appearances for New England to begin his career. He scored his first goal for the Rapids in a 3-1 win over Toronto FC on Sunday.
Conor Casey added two goals on penalty kicks, giving him three goals after he finished second in MLS with 16 last year.
New England rookie Zack Schilawski scored three times in an 11-minute span of the Revs' home opener, a 4-1 victory over Toronto on April 10, but Schilawski and his teammates were unable to generate any offense in a 2-0 loss at San Jose last Saturday.
"It was just one of those nights where we never found our game," defender Darrius Barnes said. "We didn't get the ball moving, we didn't find the chemistry."
Along with Reis, New England is missing several other key players, including strikers Taylor Twellman and Edgaras Jankauskas and midfielder Shalrie Joseph.
Jankauskas (calf) and Joseph (hip flexor) could play Saturday, and the Revs hope a return home will also provide a boost. They host FC Dallas and Chivas USA in their next two games.
"It's huge," coach Steve Nicol told the Revs' official website. "It's important to get points on the board early, so we have to take advantage of the fact that we're home."
New England has not beaten Colorado since a 1-0 home win Sept. 29, 2007, with the clubs playing to 1-1 draws in their last three meetings.
Argentine veteran Claudio Lopez may be available to make his Rapids debut in MLS play. Since signing with Colorado on April 2 following two years with Kansas City, Lopez has only appeared in a U.S. Open Cup match.
