However, the Reds’ arsenal has been boosted with off-season trades for four MLS stand-outs in goalkeeper Clint Irwin, midfielder Will Johnson and defenders Steven Beitashour and Drew Moor. All are expected to start against New York’s team in red.
A revamped defence will be complemented once again by 2015 MVP and Golden Boot winner, Sebastian Giovinco. The diminutive Italian scored four goals in a preseason schedule that saw TFC post a 1-1-1 record in matchups with full MLS sides.
The game at Red Bull Arena will be the first of eight consecutive road games for TFC, as renovations are completed at BMO Field in Toronto, ready for a curtain raising on May 7 against FC Dallas.
When asked Wednesday about the chances of U.S. National Team striker Altidore being ready for Sunday’s opener, Toronto FC Coach Greg Vanney said “We’re not going to risk him in a situation where we don’t feel he’s 100 percent ready. We want to be cautious at this point,”
Lead by top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips, Red Bulls are among the favourites to win the east. They were 2015 Supporters Shield winners and Eastern Conference Finalists, where they lost out to the Columbus Crew. Despite losing star centre-half Matt Miazga to Chelsea, Luis Robles, Lloyd Sam and Dax McCarty all signed new contracts in the off-season and Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch will hope that stability will make up for any lack of headline grabbing signings.
"We’ve made a concerted effort to keep this team together," Marsch said preseason. "Everybody feels that the group that we have is a good one and that is the main emphasis of where we are as a team and as a club.
Projected Line-ups
Toronto: C.Irwin, D.Moor, D.Perquis, S.Beitashour, J.Morrow, B.Cheyrou, W.Johnson, M.Bradley, J.Osorio, S.Giovinco, T.Endoh
New York Red Bulls: L.Robles, S.Zizzo, G.Baah, R.Zubar, K.Lawrence, M.Grella, D.McCarty, F.Martins, S.Kljestan, L.Sam, B.Wright Phillips
Broadcast: TSN4