The Vancouver Whitecaps will travel to Texas for a crucial showdown with an in-form Houston Dynamo side on Wednesday, a match with major implications in the Western Conference standings.

Houston has emerged as a top rival to the Whitecaps for securing a home playoff spot, despite largely appearing to be on the periphery of the Western Conference’s top sides earlier this season.

Most of their struggles came when they were without Hector Herrera and a top striker. Those struggles have eased in a big way — Herrera returned and Designated Player Ezequiel Ponce was signed to lead the line.

The result has been a side that took seven points from their last three matches, which came against LAFC and Real Salt Lake, two of the best in the conference.

Houston are built around an excellent defensive core, one of the best in the league, centered on the centerback pairing of Erik Sviatchenko and Micael. They have been tough to break down but, ironically, the Caps were one of the teams who had the best luck doing so this year during their 4-3 loss at BC Place earlier this year.

Indeed, the Caps dominated that match and were unlucky to leave without any points. The fact that they were without Ryan Gauld was a likely blow but the Caps also bore witness to how potent the new-look Dynamo can be.

Houston had 60%+ possession in that match, which is normal. Writ large, they have had the most possession, on average, of any team in the league. They look to use their elite midfield to advance the ball into dangerous positions, relying on quick, one-time passes to build up into dangerous areas.

Home has not been quite as much of a fortress for Houston as it was last week but they are still a tough team to beat at Shell Energy Park, with only three losses there all season. The Caps last won there in 2018 and were beat down 4-1 at a similar place in the season last year, when they were forced to rotate and generally looked out of gas.

There is a similar risk this season, as the match comes amid a busy week. A big match with LA Galaxy looms over the weekend and the Caps will also be looking ahead to the Voyageurs Cup final in a week’s time.

There is some good news, however. Brian White and Andres Cubas have returned to training and could feature, though I wonder if White will start on the bench in an effort to preserve his legs for the weekend. Stuart Armstrong is still building back up to full fitness and seems likely for another 20 minute cameo.

Ali Ahmed, however, will miss out with a quad contusion. He’ll meet the team in Los Angeles, which makes me think this is a bit of load management for him as well in the wake of Copa America and with his inclusion in the team so vital for the Canadian Championship next week.

Houston will be without Lawrence Ennali, their talented young winger who is out for some time with a knee injury. But otherwise, this will largely be a first-choice team for Ben Olson.

The Caps have been in good form recently as well and are on a streak of three matches without conceding a goal. This match sets up with an opportunity for Vancouver to do what they love most — hit on transition moments after soaking up pressure and giving space for former Dynamo Fafa Picault and Gauld to cook.

This is a match where the Caps can make a statement that they are a team that can be a contender in the west. Houston is a good team but isn’t quite elite — basically where Vancouver is at. Fixture congestion or not, this is the type of match they need to get results in down the stretch if they want to be taken seriously.