Another top-of-the-table clash in the East headlines this weekend's MLS fixtures, while two of the most desperate teams in the league square off in the West.

NEW ENGLAND v COLUMBUS
SAT 6:30 pm ET (FSC)

Under normal circumstances, the Columbus Crew could have hoped for an easier match-up this week as they try put a halt to their month-long winless streak against third place New England.

However, with the Gold Cup whisking away some of the league's best players from their clubs, the circumstances this week are anything but normal.

The Revs will have notable absences in all positions this time around, with striker Taylor Twellman, midfielder Steve Ralston and defender Michael Parkhurst all away with the US National Team, while Columbus will only miss defender Frankie Hejduk to Gold Cup.

This leaves both teams in remarkably similar situations - each has adequate depth on defense to deal with the missing players, while Twellman and Ralston's absences mean that the Revs may have just as much of a problem scoring goals as the Crew.

The Revs will look to rookie Adam Cristman, goal-less veteran Pat Noonan and perhaps even the minute-less Willie Sims to step up their attack, while the Crew will likely rely on Alejandro Moreno and Andy Herron to bolster what is now the third-worst offense in the league - and that's having played two more games than the second-worst LA Galaxy, who've scored only one goal less.

DC UNITED v CHICAGO
SAT 7:30 pm ET (HDNet)

A team on the rise hosts a team in freefall as DC United hosts rivals Chicago at RFK stadium. After a hot start to the season, the Fire endured a terrible month of May and now enter the game tied with the second-most losses in the league.

Chicago's only points in the last month-and-a-half have come in a tie against winless Salt Lake and a win against East cellar dwellers Columbus.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, United has picked up literally all of its points in the last month-and-a-half, riding a six-match unbeaten streak after three straight losses and a tie to start the season.

DC's last win was perhaps their most impressive, a 4-2 defeat of East leaders New York that featured a surprising hat trick from midfielder Ben Olsen.

Both teams will have two notable absences that could level the playing field. DC United will be playing without defender Bobby Boswell (suspension), as well as Jaime Moreno (Bolivia call-up).

Boswell's suspension leaves United with only three true defenders in an already questionable defense, while Moreno is one of only four players to score for United this season (the others being Olsen, Luciano Emilio and Christian Gomez).

Chicago may not have the pace to keep up, however, as they will be missing both wingers - Justin Mapp and Ivan Guerrero – to Gold Cup quarterfinalists the United States and Honduras, respectively.

NEW YORK v KANSAS CITY
SAT 7:30 pm ET (Direct Kick)

Yet another top of the table clash between these two teams, with Kansas City looking to extend their unbeaten streak to four games while New York will try to recover from last week's 4-2 demolition at DC United.

The only absence is a very notable one – the Wizards will be without striker Eddie Johnson (Gold Cup), who scored all three goals in Kansas City's 3-2 home win over the East leaders two weeks ago.

Complicating matters for the Wizards is New York's home form (four wins in five games), as well as the outstanding play of Juan Pablo Angel since his arrival from Aston Villa.

The Colombian has scored seven goals and chipped in two assists in only six games with the Red Bulls, who can also boast speedy rookie Dane Richards and 17-year old sensation Jozy Altidore in attack.

The Colombian has scored seven goals and chipped in two assists in only six games with the Red Bulls, who can also boast speedy rookie Dane Richards and 17-year old sensation Jozy Altidore in attack.

However, Kansas City will be starting one of the top central defense pairings in MLS in Jimmy Conrad and Nick Garcia, while New York has recently been forced to play Dutch winger Dave Van Den Bergh at left back, where he has struggled in recent games.

The Wizards will also use Johnson's absence to give significant time to Scott Sealy, who has missed the last several games with an ankle strain. Sealy, the team's leading scorer from last season, will likely pair with Davy Arnaud up top.

CHIVAS USA v COLORADO
SAT 7:30 pm PT (Direct Kick)

Separated by only a point in the standings, two teams in the middle of the Western pack square off in Los Angeles.

The sides have had varying fortunes in the last two weeks, with home side Chivas winning their last two against the Chicago Fire and West leaders FC Dallas, while Colorado has dropped their last two games, both on the road against Toronto FC and the Houston Dynamo.

With a win, Chivas could leapfrog Colorado to as high as second (with a Houston loss or tie), while a Colorado win would be invaluable as they seek to separate themselves from the rest of the teams in the West.

Both sides will be missing two key players for the match: Colorado will be without Pablo Mastroeni after his recall to the Gold Cup squad, while Kyle Beckerman is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.

Chivas, on the other hand, will be without goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender/midfielder Jonathan Bornstein, both of whom are away on Gold Cup duty.

FC DALLAS v TORONTO FC
SUN 1:00 pm ET (CBC, TeleFutura)

Two inconsistent teams square off at BMO field looking to make a mark in their respective divisions.

Dallas comes to Toronto as the clear leader in the West, a full six points ahead of second place Houston. The Hoops are also riding a two-game winning streak, and will be eager to stretch that run to three in what has proven to be one of MLS' toughest away environments.

Toronto has made so many player moves this season that five of the 11 players that started the teams' first game are now on other squads.

This week would have seen yet another Toronto FC debut, as Tyrone Marshall will look to bolster the Canadian's defense following his trade for Edson Buddle, but the Jamaica international is suspended.

The absence list is still sketchy for this match, as much depends on who wins the Gold Cup quarterfinal round game between Canada (Toronto FC's Greg Sutton, Marco Reda, Chris Pozniak and Adam Braz) and Guatemala (FC Dallas' Carlos Ruiz), and whether or not returning players from the losing team will see any playing time.

REAL SALT LAKE v LOS ANGELES
SUN 6:00 PM MT (Direct Kick)

It's a battle for a distinction that no team wants to have on Sunday as the two teams tied for the worst record in Major League Soccer square off at the Home Depot Center.

Both teams have been in dire straits as of late, with the Galaxy failing to register a win in well over a month, while Real Salt Lake has yet to register a single league win this entire season.

However, while Real Salt Lake seems to have almost no hope on the horizon, the Galaxy have increased their chances of pulling themselves out of the cellar with two additions that will likely make their LA debuts this week: forward Edson Buddle and bleach-haired defender Abel Xavier.

The Galaxy can also take heart in the fact that they have a full two games in hand on RSL, as well as one on local rivals Chivas USA, who sit eight points ahead of them in the West standings.