On Wednesday, four days before hosting the Houston Dynamo at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the Colorado Rapids looked like a team on the mend. After spinning on the stationary bike, Conor Casey circled the field with Pablo Mastroeni and Mike Petke, mobile but not joining the fray.

Petke said he was feeling better, hoping to get time in the Reserve Game on Sunday. Although he didn’t take part in the full-field scrimmage, he hopped in a three-on-three drill with Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. (also on the mend) and former Rapids midfielder Seth Trembly as teammates.

Meanwhile, the big scrimmage sounded like a Soccer Camp session. Assistant coach Gary Smith stopped play regularly to bark orders for fine-tuning transitions. Omar Cummings and Christian Gomez received instructions for initiating defense immediately after a turnover. Head coach Fernando Clavijo sat on the hill above the field for the start of the scrimmage, but was compelled to jump in with instructions too.

This is merely a snapshot of the midweek training, an earnest, professional session.

Preston Burpo will still fill in for Bouna Coundoul, who might play when his Senegalese side takes on Liberia on Saturday. Burpo has had critical saves in his short stint with Colorado, but the defensive line in front of him hasn’t been stable (in terms of personnel and performance). The projected defenders for Saturday include Jordan Harvey, Ugo Ihemelu, and Facundo Erpen.

The Dynamo will have to do without two key players. Midfielder Dwayne De Rosario and goalkeeper Pat Onstadt will represent Canada against St. Vincent & Grenadines on Friday.

The Dynamo beat the Rapids in Texas on May 10, a 2-1 victory with a penalty kick game-winner late in the game. Depending on the outcomes of other games, a win means Houston can share the top spot in the West with the Galaxy, and the Colorado win-loss potential can put the team second from the top or second from the bottom. San Jose holds the cellar with 11 points, but a Colorado loss would leave them at 15 points, one point behind Chivas USA.

Kids under 16 get in free if they join an adult ticket-holder. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. MT.