Defender Drew Moor is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with a jalapeno cheeseburger at My Brother's Bar. Goalkeeper Clint Irwin plans to hit Forest Room 5 with some friends.
The two former Colorado players have plenty of Denver dining suggestions to share with their new teammates as Toronto FC takes on the Rapids on Saturday.
The J.C.B. jalapeno cream-cheese burger will come after the game, Moor is quick to add. "Because it's not exactly the healthiest before a game."
Moor did not specify if he was referring to the single or double version of the burger.
Both teams are 1-1-1 although Toronto stands fifth in the Eastern Conference while Colorado is ninth in the West.
"They're a high-intensity, highly emotional group," Toronto coach Greg Vanney, who played briefly for Colorado in 2007, said of the Rapids. "They like to put you under pressure ... especially in their stadium."
Both teams are coming off a bye week due to the international break.
For Toronto, Saturday's game marks the halfway point of its season-opening eight-game road trip while renovations continue at BMO Field. There are games at New England, D.C. United, Montreal and Portland before Toronto hosts FC Dallas on May 7.
Moor, a former Rapids captain, played 188 games in 6 1/2 seasons in Colorado before signing with Toronto as a free agent in December. Irwin played 90 games as a Rapid before being traded to TFC in January.
"Going to the visitors dressing room is going to be different," Irwin said. "And then staying in a hotel downtown when you've been down there so many times ... is going to be a little bit interesting."
While Moor also enjoyed his time in Denver -- he met his wife there and talks regularly to several former teammates -- he says it will be tough to go back as an opposition player.
"Colorado made a very good offer to keep me there. I was ready for a new challenge, a new home, a new place. But the organization was so great for me and the fans treated me with so much respect. Hopefully it's a warm reception. I can't see it anything other than that, to be honest."
Irwin said he's excited to play before friends and fans in Denver. He also expects a positive response from the fans, noting it wasn't his choice to leave.
Colorado is a team in transition. Newly signed star midfielder Jermaine Jones is still serving a six-game ban for making contact with an official in a playoff game last October. And Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, like Jones a designated player, isn't slated to arrive until July.
Vanney should have a healthy squad to choose from.
Moor has recovered from a bout of stomach flu that keep him out of Toronto's last outing, a 1-0 loss at Sporting Kansas City. Midfielders Daniel Lovitz (concussion) and Jonathan Osorio (knee) have resumed training.
U.S. international striker Jozy Altidore, who came on as a substitute for Toronto against Sporting Kansas City after missing the first two games with a minor hamstring injury, scored for the U.S. off the bench against Guatemala on Tuesday.
Colorado is without star striker Kevin Doyle, a designated player who required surgery to repair a deep leg laceration suffered playing for Ireland in a 1-0 win over Switzerland on March 25.
