Khano Smith is in with a good shout of starting his first Major League Soccer game tomorrow as the unbeaten New England Revolution host the Colorado Rapids.

Smith has made three substitute appearances for the Eastern Conference leaders since joining the Revs after scoring against them in a pre-season friendly, the last two on the left side of midfield.

Although Smith was originally signed as a back-up striker for the Boston-based club, he has been impressing down the left, culminating in a superb cross that set up Taylor Twellman?s last-minute equalising goal against the Metrostars last weekend ? a nomination for goal of the week.

And tomorrow, when the Revolution take on the Rapids ? the side that drafted fellow Bermudian Kevin Richards ? Smith could replace Marshall Leonard on the left side.

Leonard, who was replaced by Khano against DC United two weeks ago after picking up an injury, is still not fully recovered and coach Steve Nicol has hinted Smith may be handed his full debut instead.

?He?s got a nice left foot,? Nicol has said this season. ?And he?s got real pace. Defenders don?t like that kind of pace.?

And Smith, who the club spokesman Brad Feldman this week described as ?exceeding expectations?, is relishing his new career.

?I thought I could play at this level,? said Smith after a training session this week.

?I am still learning the league and it is probably better that I am playing out wide because there is a lot of space and you can see more of the field.

?Most of the time it is luck, being in the right place at the right time. I never imagined I would be with the Revolution when I heard they were coming in for a pre-season tour.?

Smith was originally expected only to start for the side when first-choice strike pairing Pat Noonan and Twellman were away on international duty with the US, although his skills and versatility may now mean he gets that chance earlier than anticipated.

Tomorrow?s game kicks off at 7.30 p.m., but is not being televised.

Fellow Bermudian striker John Barry Nusum has now found himself a new outdoor team after being named Major Indoor Soccer League Rookie of the Year with the Philadelphia KiXX.

Nusum has signed with the Virginia Beach Mariners of the United Soccer League and was expected to make his debut last night against the Seattle Sounders.

Nusum played for the Toronto Lynx last year in the same league, then called the A-league, and is also a veteran of the Atlanta Silverbacks, for whom he was leading scorer in 2003.