Two clubs in the Eastern Conference of MLS will do battle today in a league match between Sporting Kansas City and Toronto FC. The first-division clash scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET will be held at Sporting Park in Kansas City and can be live streamed here free.

No Ike Opara. No Matt Besler. No Lawrence Olum. The depth at center-back has truly been tested for Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes, something he admits has been the most trying challenge of his career (h/t to Steve Brisendine on MLS's official website). "It's probably the most challenging thing we've ever faced, short-term," Vermes said.

"I don't know anybody in the league, I don't know any team...I've never experienced it as a player where there's been five, and every guy in that position is unavailable. I've never been in that situation," he added.

"We know that we have a challenge. It's a challenge if we have our center-backs. It's more of a challenge when we don't have our center-backs, but it's part of what we do, and you've got to learn to adapt and adjust."

"It's not always going to work perfectly for you, but I think we've got guys that are up to the challenge."

Will said players be able to live up to the challenge when Toronto FC visit Sporting Park tonight? Tell us @SportsWN

Tactical Preview

Player to Watch: With a lack of depth at the center-back position, Sporting Kansas City are projected to feature in a 3-5-2 and not the 4-3-3 their game has been synonymous with. Anchoring that three-man back line is Chance Myers, the club's featured right-back. The 25-year-old is averaging more than two interceptions and clearances per match this season.

Sporting Kansas City's Projected Lineup (3-5-2): Kronberg; Sinovic, Myers, Ellis; Juliao, Feilhaber, Toni, Nagamura, Joseph; Bieler, Dwyer

Toronto FC's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Cesar; Morrow, Hagglund, Caldwell, Bloom; Rey, Osorio, Orr, Jackson; Gilberto, Rosario

(h/t to WhoScored)

Standings

Rnk

Team

MP

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

1

New England Revolution

11

6

2

3

19

13

6

20

2

DC United

11

5

3

3

16

12

4

18

3

Sporting Kansas City

11

5

2

4

16

10

6

17

4

Houston Dynamo

13

5

2

6

16

21

-5

17

5

New York Red Bulls

12

3

5

4

18

19

-1

14

6

Columbus Crew

11

3

4

4

13

14

-1

13

7

Chicago Fire

10

2

6

2

19

19

0

12

8

Toronto FC

8

4

0

4

9

9

0

12

9

Philadelphia Union

13

2

5

6

15

20

-5

11

10

Impact Montreal

10

1

4

5

8

18

-10

7

Rnk

Team

MP

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

1

Seattle Sounders

12

8

1

3

23

19

4

25

2

Real Salt Lake

11

6

5

0

23

13

10

23

3

FC Dallas

13

5

2

6

22

22

0

17

4

Vancouver Whitecaps

10

4

4

2

16

12

4

16

5

Colorado Rapids

11

4

3

4

12

14

-2

15

6

LA Galaxy

9

3

3

3

10

8

2

12

7

Portland Timbers

11

1

7

3

16

19

-3

10

8

Chivas USA

11

2

4

5

13

20

-7

10

9

San Jose Earthquakes

10

2

4

4

10

12

-2

10