Sandy, UT -- (Sports Network) - Real Salt Lake opens Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday against Red Bull New York, but coach Jason Kreis knows the team needs to stay focused or a new era could get off to a horrible start.

RSL wrapped up its stay at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium - which is an artificial turf football stadium - on Saturday with a 2-2 tie against New England.

Although Real turned Rice-Eccles into a fortress this season, going unbeaten in its first 11 games and 7-1-5 overall, the new soccer-specific stadium in Sandy, Utah can be just as tough of a place to play.

But only if Real Salt Lake plays up to its potential.

RSL expects all 20,000 seats to be filled for the mid-week clash but the hoopla surrounding the opener needs to be the last thing on the players' minds.

"It's still a game played on a green surface - grass, in this case - with white lines, and the ball's still round and the same size. So we've got to control our emotions and keep them in check," Kreis told the Salt Lake Tribune.

Real (9-10-8) is third in the Western Conference - which is the last guaranteed playoff berth - but holds just a one-point lead on Colorado and FC Dallas. San Jose and Los Angeles are also still within striking distance.

RSL joined Major League Soccer in 2005, but failed to reach the playoffs in its first three seasons. Rio Tinto, although opening with just two home games left, could earn legendary status right away if RSL can reach the playoffs.

After last week's 2-2 draw against New England, when RSL blew a two-goal lead, RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said "we've got to get on with it ... we've got a quick turnaround so we've got to be ready."

Although a win this week wouldn't guarantee anything for Real, it would be in a much better position entering the final two weeks. RSL hosts Dallas and visits Colorado in its last two games.

Real Salt Lake's biggest concern on the field this week is replacing midfielder Andy Williams, who picked up a red card in the 92nd minute against New England.

New York, well, it has even more concerns.

New York (9-10-8) has the same record as Real, but the Red Bulls are fourth in the Eastern Conference. With Chicago seven points away in third, New York needs to remain focused over the final three weeks to have any playoff hopes.

The Red Bulls are on a three-game losing skid and just 1-4-1 in their last six. Coach Juan Carlos Osorio believes his players panicked with a playoff berth in sight weeks ago.

"We're panicking too much," Osorio told the N.Y. Daily News. "We're not playing to our potential. ... The pressure is too much for a lot of the players."

New York is a miserable 1-7-5 on the road this season - Kansas City is the only other team with just one victory on the road - and plays Columbus and Chicago in its last two games.

Coming off of last week's 3-1 loss to Toronto FC at home, New York has a lot of work to do to get back on track. A loss at RSL could drop the Red Bulls out of the top eight and a playoff position by the end of the weekend.

"We've put our backs against the wall," Bulls defender Jeff Parke told the N.Y. Daily News. "We've had our chances to separate ourselves from the rest of the division. We haven't come to play. That's all of us."