VANCOUVER, B.C. - It's no secret that the Vancouver Whitecaps are not where they want to be after ten games into the season. The 3-5-2 Whitecaps have had an up and down start to the campaign as they look for solid consistency and a run of form with positive match results. Concerns on the pitch have alternated between not scoring enough goals, to allowing too many goals against.

The Whitecaps are coming off a 3-2 loss to New York City FC at the weekend and they will host 2015 MLS Cup winner, Portland Timbers on Saturday, May 7 at BC Place. Centre-back Kendall Waston did not play at Yankee Stadium due to a suspension. He was however in attendance with his family, and minus his Barbie dolls. Following practice this week, Waston talked about the bigger concern, scoring goals or working to allow fewer opposition tallies.

"I think both, we need to score and try and have a clean sheet. Winning games is not only about scoring, we have to give a nice balance, a nice security from the back so we can let our forwards score goals."

Carl Robinson's squad will be embarking on another stretch of three matches in eight days and that will test the Caps abundance of depth. To avoid injuries, and running out knackered players, it's vital that player rotation come into play vs Chicago on May 11, and away to Toronto FC on Saturday, May 14.

"We have to think at one at a time," said Waston. "If we think that we have three games we're going to get tired before we play. We have to try and win this big game that we have at home against Portland. We know it's a big, big game. From there we'll have to see the other ones."

Not only are Caleb Porter's lads the reigning MLS Cup Champions, but they also eliminated the Vancouver Whitecaps in western conference semi-final playoff action last November. The 28 year-old Waston remembers what it was like when Portland came into BC Place and took the two leg-series over Vancouver. This is no doubt a match that Caps players have had circled on their calendar.

"It's going to be a tough game," admitted Waston. "It's going to be a nice battle because, we remember the bad feeling that they gave us last year. Now we need this win because, we need to have points, we need more points to get up in the table. This game is massive."

This match will mark the one-third fixture completion mark for the Whitecaps and they won't want to drop any more points at home, especially against a Cascadia rival. The team, supporters, and media have all set high expectations for the Whitecaps this season and that's not lost on players like Kendall Waston.

"We expect to be better", said Waston. "Last year we began very well and that helped us to the end of the season, but the reality is that sometimes it doesn't matter how you begin, it's how you end. Last year, the New York Red Bulls did it, because at the beginning they didn't do so well and at the end they finished first. Hopefully we can do that this year."

The 'Towering Tico' could very well be matched up against a former Whitecaps FC player on Saturday afternoon. Darren Mattocks will be making his return to Vancouver, in a Timbers kit. Mattocks was traded to Portland on March 14. Waston wishes Mattocks the best, but not so much on Saturday.

"Darren's a nice guy, but in the field it's going to be war. I'm going to keep it clean, but we know him pretty much and we know that he's going to come here with all his energy and try to do his best."

Whether it was warranted or not, Darren Mattocks received a lot of criticism during his time with Vancouver. Fans grew frustrated with his skill level, work rate, and production. It will be interesting to see what type of reception the Jamaican striker receives when he enters the pitch.

"Maybe it could be some that will clap and some of them will be booing," said Waston, "but that's up to the fans. Out of the pitch, he's my friend, but in the pitch, he's my enemy."

The battle lines have certainly been drawn. Kendall Waston and his Whitecaps teammates will be looking to snap out of an early season funk and earn three important points against a big foe from a season ago.