FOXBOROUGH — Revolution coach Steve Nicol wanted to make certain his team was in postseason mode long before the MLS playoffs started. Instead of resting his players in the final week of the regular season, Nicol insisted they ramp up their attitude for matches with little quantifiable relevance.

That insistence on going for it at full speed might have been a factor in midfielder Andy Dorman straining a hamstring, but it reduced the risk of the Revolution suffering a letdown. As a result, the Revolution are playing in some pain, but there is an edge to their attitude and a sharpness in their game as they head into the Eastern Conference championship game against the Chicago Fire at 3 p.m. today.

The Revolution kick-started their game in a 1-0 win over the Fire in the regular-season finale, then rallied for a 3-2 total-goals series win over the MetroStars. Chicago played to a 0-0 tie with D.C. United, then upset the defending MLS Cup champions, 4-0, at RFK Stadium last Sunday.

"D.C. lost a couple games going into the playoffs," Nicol said. "That's why I said it was important to finish the season winning games, and we've kept going ever since.

"[The Fire] started quickly and never gave D.C. any time, and they took their chances. We can't expect to get any leeway from them. In order to win, we have to be on our toes."

Neither the Fire nor Revolution are at full strength, though Dorman has returned. Chicago's Chris Armas (knee) is out and Justin Mapp (hamstring) is probable. The Revolution's left-side midfielders, Marshall Leonard (left hamstring) and Khano Smith (left knee bruise), are out.

The teams have met five times this year, both aligning in a 3-5-2 formation and more than willing to go forward. The Revolution set the pace in 3-0 and 2-0 victories early in the season; the Fire countered for 1-0 and 3-2 (US Open Cup) wins; and the Revolution took the final match Oct. 15.

"[Practice] hasn't been any different this week than six months ago," Nicol said. "Everybody is ready. Recently, teams have been coming here and packing it in, but if [Chicago] comes in and attacks, we are ready, either way."

But neither momentum nor the league's most dynamic midfield and leading scorers (Pat Noonan and Taylor Twellman) the last two years at forward have led to Revolution dominance lately. In fact, the Revolution have surrendered the first goal in 14 of their last 20 games.

"We have to be ready from the opening whistle," Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston said. "Getting an early goal gives you more energy, especially playing at home. It doesn't always happen, but we can't continue to wait to score in the 80th and 90th minutes.

"A defense can sustain only so much pressure. Eventually, they have to give in. But in the playoffs, everyone is battling and your chances are limited. The other team's defense might get tired, but we are tired, too, because we have been attacking and doing things the whole game."

The Revolution failed to score for the first 158 minutes of their playoff series with the MetroStars; in fact, Twellman's goal against the Fire in the regular-season finale was their only score over a 280-minute span. But they increased their sense of urgency, displaying their offensive firepower over a 15-minute period to clinch the victory.

"They were under pressure for so long," Nicol said of the MetroStars. "We got late goals because they were done. Three of their guys were spent after 65 or 70 minutes.

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"We certainly can't control everything, and the other team could score with the first kick on net. But we are in control of our effort and how we want to do things.

"We haven't always been rewarded right away, but we put teams under pressure, and if they want to defend and rely on every single guy not to make mistakes on the edge of the [penalty area], all it takes is one slip and the ball is in the net."

Revolution opponents have usually concentrated on Ralston's advances on the right wing. The Revolution, though, gained balance with Leonard and Smith on the left side, Smith providing the deciding score against the MetroStars. On left wing today, the Revolution will likely start James Riley, who is projected as a defender of the future but who also has provided some inspiring offense this season.

"We are not a one-sided team," Ralston said. "We have enough guys who can create and set up goals. If they want to key on Taylor or any one player, it opens up opportunities for others."

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