The Vancouver Whitecaps have been here before, watching their playoff dreams dim as the regular season fades.

With five games left on the schedule, the club sits eight points out of a post-season berth and climbing back into the playoff picture will be a tough task.

B次元官网网址淲e still have that little bit of hope,B次元官网网址� said striker Brian White. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still possible, but we know we need to get results and we need to do it now. So itB次元官网网址檚 up to us.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址楥aps (9-13-7) have accomplished this feat before.

Vancouver went 7-2-5 to finish the 2021 campaign and earn a playoff spot for the first time in four years.

B次元官网网址淲e know nothingB次元官网网址檚 over,B次元官网网址� goalkeeper Thomas Hasal said Thursday. B次元官网网址淲e know, of course, like last year that anything could happen.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e just got to focus on whatB次元官网网址檚 in our control. WeB次元官网网址檝e got to focus on winning the games, weB次元官网网址檝e got to focus on more than winning the games, weB次元官网网址檝e got to focus on our own performance. B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檝e got to take it one at a time and just continue to fight, fight, fight, fight until the end.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver will get a chance to claw its way up the standings on Saturday when it takes on the Rapids (8-12-9) in Colorado.

The two sides have already met once this season with the B次元官网网址楥aps taking a 2-1 decision in front of their home fans at B.C. Place on Aug. 17. The Whitecaps havenB次元官网网址檛 recorded a win since, going 0-2-1 in their last three outings.

White watched the Rapids game from the stands. Colorado is a team that is dynamic going forward and features some good players, he said.

B次元官网网址� (Saturday) will be a tough test, especially away with the altitude,B次元官网网址� White said. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檝e got to execute the game plan that weB次元官网网址檝e come up with and do everything we can to come up with three points.B次元官网网址�

In order to claim victory, the Whitecaps will need to find a way to score.

The club has been blanked in its last two games, dropping a 3-0 decision to Nashville SC on Aug. 27 and falling 2-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes last week. The B次元官网网址楥aps havenB次元官网网址檛 gone three straight matches without a goal since August 2020.

B次元官网网址淚 think we just need to click. I think also luck owes us something,B次元官网网址� said head coach Vanni Sartini, adding that of the two losses, only Nashville was a bad game.

B次元官网网址淪o I hope things are going to change as soon as possible. But in order to get luck you need to conquer luck.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps will be missing their two leading scorers in Colorado.

Striker Lucas Cavallini will serve the second game of a four-game suspension for stepping on an opponentB次元官网网址檚 head in VancouverB次元官网网址檚 loss to Nashville and attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld will be out due to yellow card accumulation.

Winger Deiber Caicedo is also done for the season after undergoing surgery for a right-knee injury.

B次元官网网址淪o three pieces that have played a big role in our 34 points in terms of offensive role, then theyB次元官网网址檙e not there,B次元官网网址� Sartini said. B次元官网网址淏ut we still have Brian (White) and Pedro (Vite) up top. So weB次元官网网址檙e happy. WeB次元官网网址檙e happy with that.B次元官网网址�

No matter whoB次元官网网址檚 in the lineup Saturday, the group will be eager to atone for their last two performances, Hasal said.

B次元官网网址淭he last two results have been disappointing as a team and individually and I think all of us, we want to make it right,B次元官网网址� the B次元官网网址榢eeper said.

B次元官网网址淲e want to work hard. We want to show what we can do this weekend because I feel like we havenB次元官网网址檛 shown it the last two weeks. So weB次元官网网址檙e just trying to work as hard as we can and to perform the way we know we can.B次元官网网址�

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9-13-7) AT COLORADO RAPIDS (8-12-9)

Saturday, DickB次元官网网址檚 Sporting Goods Park

INS AND OUTS: The Whitecaps will be without midfielders Sebastian Berhalter (right knee) and Ryan Gauld (suspension), winger Deiber Caicedo (right knee) and striker Lucas Cavallini (suspension).

MIX AND MATCH: Head coach Vanni Sartini is known for rotating the talent available to him. This season, 25 players currently on the first team roster have made an appearance for the Whitecaps, with 17 making 10 or more starts.

ROUGH RAPIDS: Colorado is winless in six games (0-3-3) and havenB次元官网网址檛 scored more than one goal in a match across the stretch.

B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press