Sounders may play without stars against Galaxy

This is the kind of matchup Major League Soccer had in mind when it created the designated player rule: the Los Angeles Galaxy featuring Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Giovani dos Santos against the Sounders with Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and newly signed Nelson Valdez.

The problem is that while all that Galaxy star power is expected to be on the pitch today at StubHub center, it remains mere intriguing potential for the Sounders.

Valdez, whose signing was announced Friday, is not expected to don his new uniform until next weekend. Martins has missed six straight league matches with a leg injury, and Seattle coach Sigi Schmid didn’t rule out that stretch running to seven. Dempsey, who returned to the lineup at the start of the month after being away with the U.S. national team and MLS All-Star duty, seems the surest bet, but even he left Friday training early in what Schmid called a precautionary move.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy are expected to showcase Keane, the reigning MLS MVP; while former Liverpool midfielder Gerrard is expected to make his fourth start for L.A. and Mexican national team midfielder Dos Santos makes his MLS debut.

“L.A. has been on a very, very good roll,” Schmid said. “They’ve shown themselves to be very dangerous at home. They’re integrating a couple of new players. I’m sure they’re figuring out how that all fits together, as well. But they’ve got a very talented side.”

The Galaxy have been evolving successfully, winning three of their last four league matches and their CONCACAF Champions League opener on Thursday.

The Sounders have lost seven of their past eight league matches – mostly coinciding with the absences of Dempsey and Martins.