The Sounders will have a training session in Tukwila this morning and then fly to Utah, where they will open there away-and-home aggregate-score series against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

And that’s new. This is the third playoff appearance in Sounders history, but the first time they go in as the higher seed — and therefore the first time that they play away first and then play the deciding final 90 at home.

Everyone generally agrees that should be an advantage. But interestingly enough, it hasn’t played out that way for Salt Lake according to this note from the club:

RSL’s postseason and CONCACAF Champions League history indicates that Jason Kreis’ team actually prefers to host the first leg of a two-game, aggregate-goal, 180-minute series … In these situations, RSL is a perfect 3-0, advancing over Chivas USA (2008, MLS), Columbus Crew (2009, MLS) and Saprissa (2011, CCL) … When RSL owns the higher seed or by draw hosts the second leg, it boasts only a 1-2 mark, series losses against FC Dallas (2010, MLS) and Monterrey (2011, CCL) sandwiched around another series win over Columbus (2011, CCL)

Meanwhile, here’s what a few interested parties had to say:

RSL coach JASON KREIS “I really don’t know that I know the answer to that about who has Read more »

The Sounders have concluded training at Starfire today. Afterward, coach Sigi Schmid gave a medical update heading into the Saturday night game against San Jose.

On Mauro Rosales: He got through OK. He was fine today. He’ll be in our 18 tomorrow.

On Jeff Parke: I’ll still hold off a little bit. He got through everything today except for heading. So we still want to give him a couple of more games. He’ll work hard tomorrow before the game, but we’ve got to hold him another game.

After tomorrow, the Sounders host Monterrey in Champions League on Tuesday …

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Sounders have concluded training for anther day.

Two pieces of news:

1.) Jeff Parke (concussion) hasn’t been cleared for full work yet, and spent today on a bike.

2.) Ticket sales for Saturday game against San Jose have topped 60,000.