By Jacob Klinger

World Cup Qualifying is a marathon, not a sprint. More accurately, it is an extended relay in which the old guard of the last cycle slowly but surely passes the baton to a new generation.

Naturally the speed of this process is subject to individual talent, results, and the inclincations of one Jurgen Klinsmann. One thing is a near certainy however, several of the players currently preparing for Saturday's match against Venezuela will be on the field or the bench in Brazil 2014 should the U.S. qualify. In each of the last two World Cup cycles, six players from the January camp two years before the Cup made the final roster. Klinsmann's eyes will be undoubtedly peeled throughout the Venezuela match, but here is what you, the fan, should watch for.

Goalkeeper 

Judging by the division of time between the sticks in the pair of USMNT-U-23 scrimmages, Rimando is first choice. Being ten years older than his competition in an experience-friendly position, one would expect as much. Hamid, who is age-elgible for the Olympics this year, did start the second scrimmage opposite Rimando - both keepers conceded respectable goals. Johnson also got a half for the U-23s, keeping a shutout in the second half of a 4-0 shellacking by the senior squad. Hamid and Johnson will do battle again, but for now the spot seems to be Rimando's to lose. On Saturday he'll have the chance to prove once more that his lack of height can be covered by his savvy positioning and athleticism. Klinsmann could take the easy way out and give two of Hamid, Johnson, and Rimando a half each, but the battle for back-up keeper is currently far less pressing than other areas of the field.

Defense

Although Klinsmann has recently come out saying he's comfortable with the current first-choice defense of Chandler-Bocanegra-Onyewu-Cherundolo so long as they maintain form, Father Time tells Soccer365 that they won't. Geoff Cameron and Michael Parkhurst have both shown well in camp as Big and Little combination hardly lacking for passing ability. A.J. DeLaGarza's stock suffered as badly as anyone's with the injury to Omar Gonzalez. Indivdiual talent be damned, playing side-by-side with a potential national team teammate week in and week out has and would have done wonders for Klinsmann's evaluation of DeLaGarza. Not that he is anywhere near that level, but the successes of Italy and Spain come to mind in situation's like this.

Expect a back line of Pearce-Parkhurst-Cameron-Loyd. All four players can play all four positions, but ideally the setup will feel like a homecoming. Pearce returning to his natural spot at left back, Cameron finally being taken seriously as a center back, and Parkhurst finding no problem with the physicality and pace of the international game. Such a performance will allow each player to pencil in his name as an immediate back-up to the current first choice. Of all the defenders on the roster though, Geoff Cameron's blend of brains and brawn easily gives him the most to gain from this match. 

Midfield

2012 is the year of expectation for Brek Shea and it starts with this game. Shea surprised many with his performances under Klinsmann last year, but after a MVP-worth season with FC Dallas, a high-profile training stint with Arsenal, and plenty of press clippings on both accounts, not even his hair should come across as shocking. He will face stern test on Saturday however, as he will do battle with Venezuela's Gabriel Cichero, who started all six games of last year's Copa America campaign - La Vinotinto were only a penalty shootout away from the final. And so Shea will be expected to show his worth against a full international, but somebody has to play him into the space he craves.

Beckerman will likely miss out with a knock he picked up mid-week. Assuming Klinsmann already knows what Jones can and can't do - not enough to be first choice - the midfield should be anchored by one of Larentowicz or Clark. The slight edge goes to Larentowicz as a more deep-lying, stay-at-home No. 6. Further up the field, Feilhaber and camp surprise, Graham Zusi are on distribution duty. Expect Zusi to take up more of a wing role, with Feilhaber relishing in a more central position. That's the idea at least. If Zusi fails to provide service from the wings, the underrated Brad Evans should be available for a run-out. Speed of play will naturally be the issue in question, especially for Zusi. Besides Shea, only Feilhaber has a legitimate claim to a place in the full squad, but the extended relay requires depth and the others will want to keep their names in the back of Klinsmann's mind - think Beckerman last cycle. Still, the story of the game will be how well Feilhaber conducts his midfield.

Forward

The national team's most mercurial of positions is as hard to forecast as any. Klinsmann could throw a wrench in things, again, and line up with only one true blue striker, but he seems to be a man more focused on instilling a desirable style of play than playing with the nuts and bolts of formations. Instinct tells me instinct will be tested though, in the form of Chris Wondolowski. Klinsmann wants goals first and foremost, if Wondolowski provides them, he's in. Otherwise, he lacks the physical gifts of Sapong, Bunbury, and Agudelo. Bunbury should make a return to the national team starting line-up. If he shows the same pace and physique that opened eyes a year ago, he too is in. Agudelo's health could certainly mix things up up front and Klinsmann may be tempted to test the Kansas City partnership of Sapong and Bunbury up front. Regardless, combining with the team's wingers - read: Shea - will be key. As always though, he who scores most gets called up again.

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Notes:

• 3 of the 20 players  were on Venezuela's roster in last year's Copa America (Gabriel Cichero, Leo Morales, and Alejandro Moreno)
• The U.S. is 2-0-1 all-time agaisnt Venezuela, having won the last two meetings by 2-0 scorelines. The last match was part of the Sendoff Series for the 2006 World Cup.
• Only five members of the camp will be looking for their first cap (DeLaGarza, Hamid, Parke, Sapong, and Zusi)
• 12 MLS teams are represented in the squad. Sporting Kansas City boasts three (Bunbury, Sapong, and Zusi) and FC Dallas (Loyd and Shea) and Seattle (Evans and Parke) each have two.

Jacob Klinger is a regular contributor to Soccer 365 as well as No Short Corners. He is currently a journalism student at Syracuse University. His love for the game goes back as far as he can remember, but was truly christened during the United States' cardiac qualifying campaign for Korea/Japan 2002. Between classes and columns, he still plays. You can follow him on Twitter @MrJacobK or email him at jmklinge@syr.edu. 

HAVE YOUR SAY ... Got a lineup in mind for Saturday? Think Klinsmann's going about this camp all wrong? Care to make a prediction for the game? Let's hear it in the Facebook comments section below.