Chivas USA plays at San Jose

Records -- Chivas USA 11-10-6, Earthquakes 7-10-9.

Record vs Earthquakes --1-0-1.

Update -- Four points are what Chivas wants. A win and a tie in its final three regular-season games would be enough to make certain a place in the MLS playoffs for the third consecutive year. Coach Preki's team could clinch a spot with a victory tonight if Dallas fails to defeat Toronto today and Colorado fails to defeat the Galaxy on Sunday. Chivas has blossomed of late, going 5-1-1, but will be without defender Shavar Thomas and midfielder Sacha Kljestan, who are with the Jamaican and U.S. national teams, respectively, for World Cup qualifying games. A win tonight would set a club record of four victories in a row. The Earthquakes, who this week formed a business partnership with Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League, have four games remaining but need to win tonight to realistically retain a chance at reaching the playoffs, which begin on Oct. 30.

-- Grahame L. Jones