Santiago Bedoya only has to look what his older brother Alejandro has achieved to know that he can make it at the top.

The Vancouver Whitecaps hopeful knows he is not the most athletic or most talented of players but says he can work hard on his game like 23-year old Alejandro did to make it to the Swedish Allsvenskan with Orebro.

Alejandro struggled to get a scholarship out of high school but was then close to making the US World Cup squad, giving his younger brother hope that he can gain a MLS contract with the expansion franchise.

"I think he's the greatest example of just work hard and don't really listen to what people say," said 22-year old Santiago from Whitecaps training.

"I'm pretty sure all the schools that rejected him, he got one or two goals against them. I just work hard and look for ways to improve so I can make it like my brother."

And with limited time left in pre-season, Bedoya says he will continue to do what he can to go from the camp and onto the playing list proper.

"One preseason game left [on this trip]," he added. "I'll just go out there and give it my all, and hopefully I'll do well enough to get more time, another chance to keep improving."