The Fire play the Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, trying once again to move into a tie with New England for second place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Revolution moved ahead of the Fire with their 4-0 win Thursday against Chivas USA.
The Fire are already six points clear of fourth place D.C. United in the East. In the overall league standings, the Fire are tied with Western Conference leader Houston for third-best record with 38 points.
Three members of the Fire played with their national teams in World Cup qualifying Sept. 6 and 10, and two of them are expected to play for the Fire against the Rapids.
The extra day will be most beneficial to defender Gonzalo Segares, who played 90 minutes in both games for Costa Rica.
"He got back (Thursday) at 5 p.m., got a good night's sleep and (Friday) did a regeneration, so he is ready to travel (Saturday)," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said.
Midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco of Mexico played only a few minutes in the Sept. 10 game against Canada, and it was his last game for the national team. He announced his retirement from international competition after that game.
But Blanco is expected to play his central midfield position for the Fire at Sunday. The only games he has missed for the Fire this season have been due to national team commitment or suspension for yellow card accumulation.
The bad news is that Marco Pappa, who has been sensational in the midfield for the Fire since coming to the team from his native Guatemala, suffered a "bit of a knee issue" in the Sept. 10 game against Cuba and will be out a week to 10 days, according to Hamlett.
That should open the door for Hamlett to use rookie midfielder Stephen King, who scored the game-winner in the Fire's 1-0 win against New York last weekend. Hamlett could also give a start to veteran Justin Mapp, who has been used in a reserve role the last couple of games.
In other injury news, Hamlett said defender Daniel Woolard and forward Patrick Nyarko have both worked as neutrals in practice this week, putting them on the path to full participation next week. Both players are recovering from knee sprains.
Veteran defender Dasan Robinson, who has seen little time with the senior club this season, suffered a hamstring pull in the last reserve game and is not available for selection. Veteran defender C.J. Brown continues to battle shin splints and is also out.
The Fire beat the Rapids 2-1 in a game at Toyota Park back in April but the Fire goes into Commerce City with a 0-5-4 record in their last nine games in Colorado. Chicago's last win in Colorado came Oct. 6, 1999, a 1-0 win at Mile High Stadium.
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