Goalkeeper Tally Hall feels he is now ready to take the number one mantle for Houston Dynamo.

The 25-year old has spent the past two seasons as Pat Onstad's understudy but after the retirement of the veteran, Hall is looking good to force himself into Dom Kinnear's starting line-up for at least the start of the 2011 season.

Dynamo goalkeeping coach Tim Hanley said Hall has been impressive during pre-season but had to battle it out with Tyler Deric to win the gloves.

"I'm real happy with the progress of where both guys are right now," he told the Houston Chronicle.

"It allows me to pick out each of their strengths and areas where we can adjust. I get a chance now to look at where they're strong and where they need adjustments.

"They're in great shape, they're playing well and they're confident. I'm really pleased where both of them are at."

Hall was confident his pre-season work has put him in good stead to step straight into the shoes of Onstad.

"I think I've done all right," Hall said. "Every game I kind of look at the minutes I've played, and I want to improve and I want to get better. It's an ongoing process that won't stop once the preseason is over.

"I know that more pressure is on me, but I'm not really feeling it too much. The coaching staff has been helpful, and the players ... we're all working together and we're all in this together."