The Seattle Sounders are as healthy as they've been all year and their play is reflecting that. They head into tonight's game against the Colorado Rapids with wins in consecutive games, having outscored FC Dallas and Nashville SC by a combined 4-0 in the process.

The Rapids have been up and down, but currently sit fifth in the Western Conference with 15 points through nine matches.

Here’s what you need to know:

Availability

Sounders

OUT: Paul Arriola - Knee; Jackson Ragen - Hamstring

Rapids

OUT: Adam Beaudry - Ankle; Ali Fadal - Knee; Zack Steffen - Suspension; Sam Vines - Groin

Opposition players to watch

Đorđe Mihailović: Ever since returning to MLS last season, Mihailovic has been one of the league's top offensive players. He's continued that form this year with two goals and four assists while setting the tempo for the Rapids. Everything they do offensively effectively flows through him.

Rafael Navarro: If you're looking for a classic No. 9, Navarro is pretty much it. The Brazilian is big, provides solid hold-up play and has a nose for goal. He has five goals already this year and needs to be accounted for.

Josh Atencio: The trade may not have been expected, but it seems to be working out for all involved. Atencio has established himself as a regular starter while providing the type of two-way play the Sounders long believed he could deliver.

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Stats to look smart

0: Nico Hansen is a 23-year-old goalkeeper who is expected to make his first career MLS appearance tonight. Hansen is a former United States and Denmark youth international who had previously been playing for Everton's academy before moving back to the United States.

2: The Sounders are expected to start the same lineup as last week, marking the first time this year they'll have the same starting group in consecutive games. That would also mean players like Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnák and Ryan Kent are available off the bench.

Tactics to impress

Since Chris Armas took over as the Rapids head coach last season, they've played mostly in a 4-3-3. Last week, they changed to a 4-2-2-2 that put Darren Yapi and Navarro on the field together as forwards with Mihailovic and Cole Bassett playing more as free 8s. It's a similar look as Nashville utilized last week against the Sounders. Like last week, the Sounders will need to use the wide spaces to exploit what can be a pretty narrow defense.
The Sounders have established themselves as one of the top teams in terms of progressive passing and carries. But it really wasn't until the past couple of weeks that they've been able to generate many meaningful chances from that effort. To beat a team like the Rapids who will press, they can't just break pressure, they need to punish it.