Last modified: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:14 AM EDT The MLS playoffs start Thursday for Taylor Twellman and the Revolution, and hopefully they can avoid an early knockout. (Staff photo by KEITH NORDSTROM) Revs need to kick it up a notch BY PETER GOBIS SUN CHRONICLE STAFF FOXBORO - The exasperated look, the frustration showing on the face of central defender Michael Parkhurst spoke volumes about the current state of the New England Revolution. Three times an All-Major League Soccer selection, Parkhurst knows the potential of the Revolution, knows that the Revolution are handicapped due to injuries and red-card suspensions but also knows that New England will not surrender in the opening round of the MLS playoffs. "We've struggled a bit with cohesiveness, with moving forward," Parkhurst said after practice Tuesday, New England preparing the first of the two-match, total-goal series against Chicago Thursday night (8) in Foxboro. The Revolution are reeling, entering the postseason with an 0-4-2 slate over their past half-dozen outings, having scored only five goals during that span; without midfielder, captain and offensive creator Steve Ralston (broken leg), without defender Gabriella Badilla (red-card suspension), without midfielder Khano Smith (red-card suspension) and without much chance for success against Chicago. That's because the Fire (13-10-7) have not only won all three regular-season meetings with New England, the Fire have outscored the Revolution 9-1 over that span. "We're trying to sort that out, we've been too predictable," added Parkhurst of the limited options on offense that New England has. Taylor Twellman not only has just two goals over the past half-dozen matches, he is getting fewer and fewer touches of the ball. New England, making its seventh straight MLS Cup playoff appearance, has played in six-consecutive Eastern Conference championship matches and four MLS Cup championship matches, including the past three title tilts. The good news is that New England has beaten Chicago in each of the past three playoff series, beating the Fire 1-0 in Foxboro in the 2007 and 2005 Eastern Conference championships; and beating the Fire on penalty kicks (4-2) in the 2006 semifinals. But, that was history, far removed from the Revolution present. Chicago has two dynamic and prolific attackers in striker Chris Rolfe (nine goals, seven assists) and midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco (seven goals, 11 assists) in addition to a pair of five-goal scorers in Brian McBride and John Torrington. "We know what it takes," added Parkhurst. "A lot of their success goes through him (Blanco). If we take him out, put pressure on him, it'll make our lives easier." But in the absence of Badilla, will New England coach Steve Nicol adhere in a 3-5-2 formation with Jay Heaps, Chris Albright and Parkhurst on the backline? Or bring in a fourth defender, such as Chris Tierney or Amaechi Igwe? "We're changing back and forth, seeing our options," said Parkhurst. "Stevie (Nicol) likes the four (man back line), with Heaps in the middle with me and then maybe bring in Amaechi or Tierney. I wouldn't be surprised if we start in a four." New England has done a fairly commendable job of defending and has a most reliable goalkeeper in Matt Reis, but the bottom line is that the Revolution has won just one of its last 10 matches heading into the MLS Cup playoffs. "Everybody understands that we'll have to play tight," said Parkhurst, New England favoring a style to maximize defense in view of Chicago's Fire-power. "It's the playoffs, we have a bunch of veterans." Corner Kicks The Western Conference champion and two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo, of which Attleboro's Geoff Cameron is a member, open their first-round playoff series at the NY-NJ Red Bulls Saturday and return to Texas Nov. 9 for the second match. Cameron has one goal and two assists in his rookie season, playing in 23 matches, starting eight ..."Injuries have kept us from playing our true strider," said Revs defender Jay Heaps, who played all 2700 minutes in 30 regular season matches, one of only two MLS "field" players to do so. "We're just finding a way to win" ... Twellman has eight goals on the season in 16 matches on 22 shots on goal, 42 shots overall. "You miss a guy like Ralston, no doubt about it," said Twellman of the team's leading scorer (eight goals, seven assists). "I have to start shooting from outside the box and getting chances for myself" ...ESPN2 will televise Thursday's game, the reason for the late start ... The Revolution are 6-0-0 at home against the Fire in playoff action. The rivalry has been fiery. The 2005 Eastern Conference title match ended in a near brawl when Chicago thought it had scored the game-tying goal at the final whistle; in two of the three matches this season, players were ejected; Reis stopped two Chicago penalty kicks in the 2006; and Blanco (the MLS leader in fouls suffered, 76) is one of the great "divers" of all time.