The Los Angeles Galaxy hope to have leading scorer Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez in their lineup on Saturday afternoon when they visit the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City, Colo.

Chicharito scored 10 goals in his first 10 games for the Galaxy, but hasn't played since he tallied twice in the Galaxy's match against the San Jose Earthquakes on June 26. He has been out while nursing a calf injury.

His return comes at an ideal time for the Galaxy (11-8-3, 36 points), who are beginning a three-game, eight-day stretch against the Rapids (12-4-5, 41 points).

But that likely means he will be limited in his role in his return, perhaps used as a late sub for summer signing Dejan Joveljic.

"He's trained all week with the group and he's done well," Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said of Chicharito. "He feels good, he looks good. And so he'll be available this week. And we'll try to work together with him and make sure that we create the right loads and schedule just to get through this really busy week."

Beyond the return of Mexico's all-time leading international goal scorer, Saturday's tilt also marks the second meeting between Vanney and Rapids manager Robin Fraser, Vanney's former assistant at Toronto FC.

Fraser's side recorded a 2-1 win in Los Angeles on Aug. 17, courtesy of goals from Jonathan Lewis and Andre Shinyashiki.

That win was part of three in a row for Colorado during a longer seven-match unbeaten run that has taken the Rapids to the second spot in the Western Conference. The Rapids sit one point behind the Seattle Sounders.

Colorado on Saturday will be without captain Jack Price, who is serving a yellow-card accumulation suspension.

And Fraser is expecting a different wrinkle from his former boss.

"They are a good team and really, really well coached," Fraser said. "I'm sure that Greg is going to do something a little bit different. And we'll have to be ready to deal with it."