Seattle Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock says the players are "champing at the bit" to get back to MLS action after the World Cup break, starting with rivals the Portland Timbers.

The Sounders are sixth in the Western Conference, earning 24 points from their first 13 matches, and they have games in hand on the teams around them.

However, after going unbeaten in nine MLS matches (W6 D3), they lost their last two matches heading into the break against the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC without scoring a goal.

And Rothrock insists the team are ready to get back to winning ways, having not tasted victory since May 14.

"I think it's perfect," said Rothrock. "We've been champing at the bit to go, and there's no better way to get into things than with the rivalry.

"Everyone is excited for this one, and we're hoping to ride the Seattle World Cup momentum into this. Hoping to get a big crowd."

The Timbers, meanwhile, are 13th in the West, six points off the final playoff place, having won just four of their 14 matches so far.

They are in a period of transition, having sacked head coach Phil Neville in May, and are winless in their last three league matches (D1 L2).

However, interim coach Jack Cassidy is delighted by the togetherness the side have shown as they prepare to get back into MLS action.

"I've learnt the players want to do really well for the football club," he said.

"I think that's been really clear in how we've approached it.

"These interim spells can be difficult to navigate because it creates natural uncertainty, and you're asking them to be really accountable and professional, and they seem to have really rallied together to best prepare for this game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seattle Sounders – Osaze De Rosario

The Sounders failed to score in their last two regular-season matches before the break after being shut out only once in their previous 19 league matches dating back to last August.

Osaze De Rosario scored their last goal, netting an 89th-minute winner in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes, but that was only his second of the season, having played just 357 minutes.

Portland Timbers – Antony

Antony scored his ninth regular-season goal since the start of last season in Portland's last match before the World Cup break, assisted by David Da Costa.

Anthony's 18 goal contributions are the most of any Timbers player over the last two seasons.

MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

Seattle snapped a nine-match home winless run against the Timbers with a 1-0 victory last October, their first home win over Portland since 2018.

The home side has won only five of the 20 meetings between the Sounders and Timbers since the start of the 2019 season.

After losing only one of their first 11 matches of the regular season, Seattle lost their final two matches before the break. The Sounders' last three-match regular-season losing streak was in July 2022, with one of the defeats coming at home against Portland.

However, Portland have won only one of their last 16 away matches in all competitions (D4 L11) dating back to last August. The Timbers have been shut out in nine of those 16 matches, totalling 11 goals in that time.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 62.2%

Draw – 19.4%

Portland Timbers – 18.4%