Bermuda's Khano Smith believes New York Red Bulls' speed and physical prowess will stand the team in good stead this season.

Smith, 28, misses tomorrow's trip to Seattle Sounders, the club that drafted him in the expansion draft and ushered him to New York once Sigi Schmid took the reins.

"They had fast guys before but now they have brought in some more," Smith said. "In this league you have to be physical and you have to be athletic. Hopefully that's what we've improved on this year. It's hopefully going to be exciting to watch."

Red Bulls' Seth Stammler reckons fellow midfielder Jorge Rojas will be able to bring out the best in newly acquired wingers Smith and Dominc Oduro.

"Obviously he's a great passer so hopefully he'll be able to get Dane and Khano and Dominic Oduro some through-balls and create some offence that way," Stammler said.