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VANCOUVER -- Martin Rennie faces more tough lineup decisions when the Vancouver Whitecaps visit the Colorado Rapids in Denver, but hes not complaining. Unlike in many previous cases this season, the Whitecaps coach can base his decisions Saturday on several options rather than necessity. Rennie has fewer lineup concerns because he does not have to deal with as many injuries as he has in previous weeks, while suspensions and international absences are not factors either. "Its much better than not having choices," said Rennie after a practice this week. "At certain points in the season, weve just not had the choice of who we can play, but now weve got that, and I think it pushes everybody a little bit higher." The Whitecaps (10-7-6) are unbeaten in seven of their past 10 games. Rennie has options up front, in midfield and on the back line as they try to break a tie for second place in the Western Conference with the Rapids (9-7-9), who are unbeaten in five games. Arguably, Rennies most difficult decision will come on the back line as he determines whether to insert veteran central defender Andy OBrien, a commanding presence on the pitch, who has been out since early June with a hamstring injury. OBriens return could break up an effective partnership between Johnny Leveron and Carlyle Mitchell, who appears the most likely to be moved to the bench. The duo has filled in admirably while the Caps have coped with injuries to the back line that are easing but still taking their toll with Brad Rusin (ankle) and captain Jay DeMerit (torn Achilles) out. "Its nice for us to have a little bit of competition, because we havent had that," said Rennie. "For many weeks, we didnt even have a centre back on the bench. So its nice to have to make a decision on who starts, and that will be a difficult decision." Striker Darren Mattocks return from a knee injury that required surgery last month also means that Rennie can rest Kenny Miller, who scored a goal in Scotlands friendly against England in London on Wednesday and has travelled across the Atlantic twice this week. Whatever he decides, Rennie can be confident that replacements will be up for the task. "Obviously, were still just building our team and I think that we want to be improving all the time," he said. "But weve scored more goals this year than weve scored in the whole of last year (and 2011), and theres still a third of the season, so thats a positive sign. ... But were also making saves at the other end, and defending well and starting to possess the ball better. So weve got a lot to build on. "But the last few games dont matter so much. Its just about this next one." Coaches in all sports love internal competition, and Rennie is no exception. While the Whitecaps are much more stable than they were a year ago, when a series of mid-season roster changes led to a summer swoon in the standings, the competition for jobs is much higher. "When I first arrived, there was a lot of building to be done of the team," he said. "There was a lot of adjustments that we had to make. There was a number of players that probably werent quite at the level that we thought. But I think the squads getting stronger. It needs to just keep improving. "But I think you saw when we played Portland away we were missing six or seven key players, and the guys who came in did really well (as the team earned a draw.) So the squads much deeper than it was before, and theres more competition than there was before, and thats what we want." Mattocks said he felt burdened to carry the team offensively last season, but Camilo and Miller, who both scored in a 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes last week, have lightened his load in a difficult season. DeMerit said the battle for jobs is much different than it was when he arrived on the scene with Vancouvers 2011 expansion club. But in order to succeed as a team, players must accept the increased competition and expectations. Midfield still remains somewhat of a question mark. Gershon Koffie, who played a holding midfielder role against San Jose for the first time and performed well, is expected to play the same role in Denver. So the engine-room crew is not expected to change much in Denver. But Rennie has the comfort of knowing that he can make revisions if he wants to. Notes: Rapids midfielder Hendry Thomas is eligible to return after serving a two-game suspension. ... New Colorado designated player Gabriel Torres, a member of Panamas national team, could make his debut. ... The Whitecaps won two of three meetings with Colorado last season while the other game ended in a draw. Adidas Ozweego Baratas . A fully booked flight forced me to leave two hours later. After a nice meal in which I studied the stats of the Argo win, I prepared to leave the restaurant. As I was gathering my things to leave many large individuals began to walk up and wait for tables. Adidas Gazelle Rebajas . Hall joined Bengals teammates for a voluntary workout on Monday. Hes got his mobility back and is on schedule to be ready for the season. CINCINNATI - Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is happy with his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon and expects to be ready for the start of training camp in July. http://www.baratasnmd.com/adidas-gazelle-baratas/hombre.html .com) - The New York Rangers hope to punch their ticket to the second round when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for a Game 6 battle at Wells Fargo Center. Adidas NMD R1 España . - Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors will coach the Western Conference in the All-Star Game on Feb. Adidas NMD R2 Hombre . Starting from pole, the 26-year-old Vettel turned in a trademark clinical performance to win the Indian Grand Prix on Sunday and join F1 greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as just the third driver to win four consecutive championships.Paris, France - World No. 1 superstar Novak Djokovic highlighted Tuesdays second-round winners at the $3.7 million Paris Masters. The Wimbledon champion handled German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 on the indoor hardcourts at Paris Palais Omnisports. The Serbian Djokovic recorded three service breaks and was only broken once in advancing. The two-time champ Djokovic is the reigning Paris Masters titlist, having beaten then reigning champion David Ferrer in last years finale. Tomas Berdych outlasted Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2. The fifth-seeded Berdych didnt have the best of times in Valencia last week, losing in straight sets in the first round to Pablo Andujar. Berdych has reached the quarterfinals or better five times at this event, winning the title in 2005. It remains the only ATP Masters 1000 title the Czech has won. In other second-round action, 14th-seeded 6-foot-8 South African Kevin Anderson got past Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) and Spanish left- haandier Fernando Verdasco took out 15th-seeded fellow former top-10 star Gilles Simon of France 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.dddddddddddd In some first-round play, French star and two-time Paris Masters runner-up Gael Monfils took care of Portugals Joao Sousa 6-1, 6-4, rising Belgian David Goffin erased Czech Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-3, and Spaniard Tommy Robredo outlasted Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5). Goffin was last weeks Basel runner-up to Swiss icon Roger Federer, while Robredo is fresh off his runner- up finish at the hands of Andy Murray in Valencia. Additional opening-round wins came for Frenchmen Jeremy Chardy and qualifier Lucas Pouille and Uruguays Pablo Cuevas. On Wednesday, second-round matches are on the schedule for a second-seeded Federer, Aussie Open champ Stan Wawrinka, a fourth-seeded Ferrer and an eighth-seeded Murray. The 2011 Paris Masters champion Federer will take on the capable Chardy. This marks the final tournament of the regular season on the ATP World Tour. ' ' '