Andy O'Brien is closing in on a return to action with Vancouver Whitecaps following a hamstring injury.
The 34-year old Irish centre-back sustained the problem against Seattle Sounders on June 8 and has not featured in any of the Whitecaps' six MLS fixtures since.
The former Newcastle United, Bradford City and Leeds United man is back training but admits he is unsure exactly when he will be back available for head coach Martin Rennie.
"In terms of being available for that game, it might be a little bit soon - certainly to start," O'Brien told MLSsoccer.com ahead of the weekend's clash with LA Galaxy.
"Hopefully Thursday there could be an opportunity that I could train, and then depending on how well that goes, it's the manager's decision.
"It's the best it's been. I think it's just been a bit frustrating, because I was running five days after I'd done the injury and I seem to have been running for a long time now."
