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. Hydro Flask 32 OZ Danmark . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Hydro Flask Barn . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. http://www.danmarkhydroflask.com/ . LOUIS -- St. Hydro Flask Danmark .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Hydro Flask Kaffe .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Josh Hazlewood has expressed his desire to see Peter Siddle chosen as Australias third seamer for the WACA Test against South Africa, which starts from November 3, amid talk that a strong first-class record in Perth may play in favour of the potential debutant paceman Joe Mennie.On what the Australians ardently hope will be a more lively WACA surface than the strip that led to a dull draw against New Zealand last summer, Hazlewood said he wanted to be able to partner with Siddle, who has returned to the fold for the first time since February, when he broke down with a back stress fracture.Despite a sterling record both individually and in support of other bowlers in the Test team - specially as the foil to Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris during the 5-0 Ashes sweep four summers ago - Siddle has faced an apparent reluctance by the selectors to choose him at various junctures, most notably in England last year.This time around Mennie has been touted as a possible into the wind seamer given his strong record for South Australia in Perth and also a greater spread of matches this year for Australia A and the Redbacks, on either side of two appearances for the ODI team in South Africa. Hazlewood, however, spoke strongly for Siddle.It is great to have Sids in the 12 and hopefully he gets a crack on Thursday, Hazlewood said after the Test series launch at Elizabeth Quay in Perth. It is great to have an experienced player in the squad who can talk about the different players and the way to go about it. He is valuable come team-meeting time.Hazlewood will make his return to the national side having spent the past month resting up alongside Mitchell Starc, rather than playing in South Africa.dddddddddddd He admitted the pair exchanged a few miffed text messages as Australia were throttled 5-0 by South Africa.It did cross the mind occasionally watching from home, Hazlewood said. I didnt watch too much of it. It was tough to watch at times. You would love to be on every tour and playing every game but the way the schedule is impossible for the quicks to do that.Mitch Starc and myself were sending a few text messages back and forth wondering what was going on. Playing South Africa at home is tough in any format. The young bowlers will learn from that.The flatness of some of Australias recent displays has caused some level of introspection about the way the team carries itself on the field, something Hazlewood acknowledged. I dont need to be angrier but I have to have a presence, he said. That is easier to do when you are at home and on top and playing well.When you are down in the dumps, as we were in Sri Lanka, and coming from behind all the time it is a lot harder to do. If we get off to a good start on Thursday we can lead from the front.For that to be possible, many eyes will be on the WACA pitch. The Western Australia boys who played on it last week said there was a little bit there for bat and ball, Hazlewood said. Last year was a bit disappointing and hopefully there is a bit more pace and bounce than this years WACA wicket and it gets back to its traditional way it usually plays. ' ' '