The two elite teams from the Western Conference, the LA Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo, will appropriately do battle on Friday night for a spot in MLS Cup in Seattle.

Coach of the Year Bruce Arena turned around the Galaxy after a dismal 2008, thinks to a roster overhaul, including player acquisitions like Rookie of the Year Omar Gonzalez.

Perhaps more impressively, Arena guided the club through some turbulent waters as the David Beckham-Landon Donovan saga played out.

Both stars seem to be playing nice, and playing well as the Galaxy has posted three wins and two draws in the last five matches.

Included in that late-season run is an October 18 0-0 draw at Houston. The Dynamo has been equally impressive of late, going six MLS matches without a loss.

When these teams mean early in the year, it was a 1-0 LA win, but both sides were missing key players for that battle.

What Houston may lack in star power compared to LA, it makes up for in experience. The Dynamo won back-to-back MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007.

A potential disadvantage for Houston will be the amount of matches played in the second half of the season. The Dynamo took part in CONCACAF Champions League and has played 20 matches since the All-Star break, compared to 14 for LA.

The stars at night might be big and bright in Texas, but the stars on the pitch for the Galaxy will prove too much for the Dynamo on Friday night in California.