Prior to Thursday's MLS season opener, Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid admits his former attacker Sebastien Le Toux will be well up for the contest.

The 26-year old Frenchman was a key player in the Sounders' first season in the top flight in 2009 but during the off-season he was not protected and picked up by expansion franchise Philadelphia Union who come to Qwest Field for the 2010 season's first kick.

Schmid predicted that Le Toux would be looking forward to the match, especially after spending a few years in Seattle when the club was in the USL.

"I'm sure Seba's going to be geared up and ready to," Schmid said. "He has spent some good years here in Seattle and unfortunately we couldn't protect everybody (in the expansion draft) and he was the player that we lost.

"I'm sure he's excited to play in front of his friends and a lot of fans that he earned during his time here. It's going to be exciting in that way. The Union's been pretty secretive about their lineups and who they're playing, but we expect them to be a conservative, defensive-orientated team that going to keep the game close.

"And Seba's going to be an important part of their game as a guy who can get forward and counterattack at the right time."