Sole possession of first place in the Western Conference is on the line for Chivas USA this evening (they’re tied with Houston and the Galaxy, who face each other at noon Sunday, with 44 points at the top of the table).

Chivas has returned to their early season form of late, with shutouts in four of their last five games just as they had six clean sheets in their first nine outings.

A gorgeous evening, but sadly another sparse crowd at Home Depot Center.

Two changes for Chivas USA Coach Preki with U.S. goal hero Jonathan Bornstein slotting into the center of defense in place of Claudio Suarez and Jesse Marsch making his first start in midfield since the Aug. 29 loss to the Galaxy in place of Jesus Padilla.

Up front Preki retains the striking partnership of Justin Braun and Maykel Galindo.

Chivas USA XI: Thornton, Talley, Bornstein, Cuesta, Jazic, Lahoud, Marsch, Nagamura, Kljestan, Braun, Galindo.

Former Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling starts in defense for the Earthquakes, while former Galaxy players Brandon McDonald and Simon Elliott (albeit from different eras) also start for San Jose.