Scouting: Real Salt Lake @ Chicago Fire

When: 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Toyota Park

TV: ESPN2

Scouting Real Salt Lake: The defending MLS Cup champion returns to Chicago for the first time since defeating the Fire in last fall's conference championship game. RSL (8-3-3, 27 points) is picking up where it left off last season and is unbeaten in its last nine games.

Scouting the Fire: An up-and-down season continues for the Fire (4-4-5, 17 points), which is coming off Saturday's loss at Columbus. Patrick Nyarko and Dasan Robinson could miss the nationally televised game due to injuries.

Next game: vs. Monarcas Morelia in SuperLiga, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, at Toyota Park.