Brian Schmetzer insisted he would not underestimate Sporting Kansas City in what he predicts will be a "crazy" season in the Western Conference this year. 

Seattle are unbeaten in their last six MLS games (W5 D1), with their latest victory seeing them down FC Dallas 2-1 thanks to goals from Jordan Morris and Jesus Ferreira. 

The Sounders are fourth in the West but eight points adrift of leaders San Jose Earthquakes ahead of their trip to bottom-of-the-table Sporting KC at Sporting Park this weekend. 

It is their final away league game until May 24, and Schmetzer urged his players to get a positive result ahead of three matches at Lumen Field in the coming weeks. 

"It's a good start, but it has to be," Schmetzer said of his team's season so far. "Because the likes of Vancouver, San Jose, LAFC are still right there. The Galaxy beat RSL.

"The West is just going to be crazy this season, so we need to make sure that we continue on the road before we even think about the three games at home. 

"We can't look forward to those matches, and we have to make sure that we take care of business against Kansas City this weekend.

When asked about Sporting KC's poor start, Schmetzer remained cautious, telling reporters: "It makes them dangerous.

"I had to stop training midway through because the intensity wasn't there. The players, in my opinion, because they needed a bit of encouragement. It's a trap game."

Sporting KC, meanwhile, have taken just four points from their opening nine games of the season, and they were thumped 5-0 by the Chicago Fire in their last league outing. 

They are the third team in MLS history to concede at least three goals in five consecutive regular-season matches.

The only team to allow three or more goals in six straight games was Chivas USA between August and September 2014, doing so within the final 10 matches in club history.

Raphael Wicky was only appointed in January, and he conceded that his team are still trying to find the right balance in adapting to his tactics as well as the basics of football. 

"It's an in-between," Wicky conceded. "At the end of the day, we are in a negative spiral with a lot of negative results and a lot of goals conceded. 

"At one point you have to say 'how can we be competitive?', while not also losing completely our idea and what we want to achieve with the group this season. 

"But when we concede so many goals, it is normal for us to think, 'Hey, how can we be more defensively solid, and then what can we add after that?'. But, that's where we are."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting KC – Dejan Joveljic

In a struggling season for Sporting KC, Joveljic has been a shining light, having netted four goals in nine games so far, while also registering one assist for his team-mates. 

The 26-year-old has scored twice in seven MLS outings against Seattle, but has only been on the winning side once (D1 L5). 

Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris

Morris, along with Ferreira, each found the net in Seattle's win over Dallas last time out, and they will be out to cause more havoc here.  

The pair have combined to score 16 goals in 26 career regular-season matches against Sporting (Morris nine goals in 12 games, Ferreira seven goals in 14 games).

MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

Seattle have won three straight matches against Sporting KC, outscoring them, 10-4, in those matches. The Sounders had won three of their previous 10 against them (L7) and had not recorded consecutive wins since 2013-14 prior to this three-game run.

Schmetzer's side have also equalled a club record with 19 points through their first eight matches this season (also in 2012). Seattle have conceded just two goals in their last six league matches following their only loss of the season, a 2-0 defeat at Real Salt Lake in February.

Sporting KC, meanwhile, have lost five straight regular-season matches, being outscored, 18-3, in those games. Their minus-15 goal difference is also their worst in any five-match span in the club's MLS history.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting KC – 13.5%

Draw – 16.7%

Seattle Sounders – 69.8%