Fresh off a come-from-behind 3-3 road draw in Seattle, DC United will face the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. kickoff). United features a flurry of talented attackers, including former Rapids playmaker Christian Gomez. Gomez has sparkled since his return to United, joining Emilio, Fred, and Jaime Moreno in the crafty factory of the attacking third.

Meanwhile, the Rapids will showcase a new face on offense. With Colorado’s current goal-scoring leader, Conor Casey, half a world away, the Rapids will insert newly acquired Pat Noonan at some point of the game up front. Noonan came from the Columbus Crew this month, following a stint in Norway and a successful run with the New England Revolution before that.

“I’m sure he must realize that he’ll be a huge part of what we aim to achieve,” said Rapids head coach Gary Smith. “He’s in the prime of his career. We can offer him to recapture the form he had before he went to Norway. He’s in good shape, and he’s back to full health.”

“He’s a really good player,” echoed Colorado’s captain Pablo Mastroeni. “He has a lot of experience, and he just needs a little confidence. Gary does a great job of giving him a specific role without making him lost in translation of what to do and how to defend and attack. He’s the kind of player that excels when he has the support of the coach. Obviously, he’s a proven player. We’re happy to have him.”

“Every debut has excitement,” Noonan noted. “You want to go out and show what you can do and be effective. I’ve been around long enough that I know what I should do to be effective with the team this weekend and try to fit in as quickly as possible.”

Strategically for Saturday, Noonan’s experience in the east helps the Rapids. “I know DC a little bit,” Noonan said. “Yesterday we watched them in a tough atmosphere on the road to battle for a big tie. They obviously move the ball well. You know they’re not going to quit. They put themselves in the top of the east because they work hard for each other.”

From the on-field leader’s perspective, “We’re well prepared,” Mastroeni said. “More importantly, the attitude within the group is excited about taking on a team that’s been best in the east and one of the better teams in the league. Hopefully, we’re well-rested. The guys are excited about a good result in Salt Lake. You can see the positivity in the group and everyone is pushing each other in training. The competition is getting the best out of every player. I’m looking forward to a great game against DC.”

On the field, fans will notice what Noonan can do on Saturday night. But in the long run, his contribution may be more subtle. “I hope that Pat coming into the group inspires others as well,” Smith said. “We want to get him involved right away. He’s been around the league a lot. He’s a good guy, a decent person, which is also a big part of why we brought him in. We’ve got a good locker room right now, and we want to keep it that way.”