RAPIDS' FORWARD AGOGO RETURNS TO STARTING LINEUP AFTER SUSPENSION:

Junior Agogo returns to the starting lineup after sitting out the season opener against Miami. He missed the season opener against the Fusion while serving a one-game suspension for a red card received on September 24 against the 2000 MLS Cup Champion Kansas City Wizards in the third playoff game last season.

Agogo was ejected for dangerous play in the 75th minute of that game, and his return to the lineup will help bolster a Rapids' attack that only managed five shots on goal against the Fusion.

SPENCER GETS ACQUAINTED WITH MLS AND THE RAPIDS WITH A GOOD START:

Coming off his first MLS start for the Colorado Rapids, forward John Spencer - who scored his first goal of the season against the Fusion in a 2-1 loss in Miami last week - will look to add to his scoring resume when he faces Clint Mathis and the MetroStars in the home opener.

YOUNG STAR GOALKEEPER'S COLLEGE MENTOR RETURNS TO FACE HIS APPRENTICE:

Paul Grafer, former Colorado Rapids goalkeeper (1997-98), returns to Colorado with his new team the MetroStars after a stint in the A-League with the Long Island Rough Riders. Grafer was also a graduate mentor to current Rapids' 'keeper Adin Brown while the latter was still in college at William and Mary.

HART-BROKEN TO BE ON INJURED RESERVE WITH POTENTIAL SEASON-ENDING INJURY

Rapids midfielder/forward Wes Hart had surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn left Achilles tendon suffered in the match last week against the Miami Fusion. The procedure was performed by Colorado Rapids' team physician Dr. Wayne Gersoff at Dry Creek Surgery Center in Englewood. The procedure lasted approximately one hour and successfully reattached the tendon. At this point, Hart is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. He has been placed in the team's injured reserve list.

"I'm calling Wes our post-season Superman because we're looking forward to having him back for the playoffs," said Rapids head coach Tim Hankinson.

Rapids' head athletic trainer, Theron Enns, described the tear as "clean," and expects Hart to have a full and complete recovery.

Hart, a second-year pro, scored the first two goals of his professional career in his first two games. The first was an acrobatic bicycle kick against the 2000 MLS Cup winners Kansas City, and the second was in his second start against the Miami Fusion. Hart was out much of last season with a knee injury.

RAPIDS LOOK TO CONTINUE THEIR WINNING WAYS ON HOME OPENING DAY:

When the Rapids open up at home, on Saturday, they will look to continue their home-opening winning streak, which stands at two games. The Rapids home opening record is 4-1, with the only loss coming in 1998 against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Rapids' largest margin of victory was a 4-0 shellacking of the Kansas City Wizards back in 1996. The Rapids also posted victories in 1997 (2-1 vs. Columbus), 1999 (2-1 shoot-out victory vs. Kansas City), and a dramatic 1-0 win against Tampa Bay in 2000.

RAPID FIRE STORY POINTS

* Ross Paule needs 3 goals and to reach the 20/20 plateau.

* Paul Bravo needs 6 games to reach 150 games played.

* Paul Bravo needs 4 goals to reach 50 career goals.

* Marcelo Balboa needs 1 goal and 3 assists to reach 20/20 plateau.

* Key Opponent to watch: Clint Mathis, Forward/Midfielder (1 goal, 1 assist in 1 game).

KEY MATCHUP: MetroStars M Mark Chung vs. Colorado M Imad Baba: Two of the best wingers in MLS will have to balance their propensity to push forward and attack with defending the counterpart. Both figured in goals for their teams in the first weekend, and the player that can assert himself at Mile High Stadium should figure to be a factor in the match.

INJURY UPDATE:

Wes Hart		(left achilles tear)		Out - IR
Robin Fraser		(abdominal sprain)		Out - IR
Keyeno Thomas		(broken left wrist)		Questionable
Scott Vermillion	(right groin strain)		Questionable
Marcelo Balboa 		(abdominal strain)		Probable

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