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The Colorado Rapids own the better record heading into their Saturday night match with the Seattle Sounders, but still view their next opponents as premier Western Conference contenders.

The Sounders (3-3-3, 12 points) have won two MLS Cups and reached four finals since 2016 under manager Brian Schmetzer, a record Chris Armas would love to eventually emulate with Colorado (4-2-3, 15 points).

“I think they are a benchmark in this league for winning and what winning looks like,” said Armas, in his second year at the helm of the Rapids. “And they’ve created a beautiful culture over there of winning and I’m envious of it. I’m striving to do that here in many ways.”

Based on his recent results, perhaps Armas is on his way.

Rafael Navarro and Djordje Mihailovic have combined to score nine times, each registering a goal each in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at the Houston Dynamo.

And the Rapids were moments away from securing a second consecutive win and fifth out of seven in Houston, pegged back only by Ondrej Lingr’s equalizer in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Seattle visits on the heels of consecutive victories, hammering Nashville SC 3-0 last Saturday after earning a 1-0 win at FC Dallas the weekend before.

Schmetzer’s squad is getting healthier, with Jordan Morris and Pedro de la Vega returning to regular action after each missed several weeks with leg muscle injuries.

De la Vega scored in the Nashville victory. Morris’ return to the starting lineup could be complicated by the form of striker Danny Musovski, who had goals in both recent Seattle wins.

“It’s my job to win games. It’s the players’ job to play to their potential and make those choices hard for me,” Schmetzer said this week. “It’s just about as easy as that. Musovski has made it challenging for me. The team has had two gritty, gutty performances. Different, completely different from away at Dallas and home. And there will be some tough choices this week.”

-Field Level Media