by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

Fresh from a tense Major League Soccer playoff tie with new boys Seattle that came down to one Brian Ching overtime goal, Houston handyman Geoff Cameron claims the Sounders did his side a service ahead of Friday's West final at Los Angeles.

The Dynamo, MLS Cup champs in 2006 and 2007, led their division through the summer before their form noticably slipped. From August 15th to October 18th, they won just one of seven league games to fall down the table.

Now battle-hardened after winning the Sounders challenge, Cameron says Houston owe a bit of edge sharpening thanks to their first round victim.

"I think so," he told Soccer365. "We went into Seattle and played really well and got a good result especially with the environment out there. We brought some confidence back to Houston."

"We walked in at halftime of the second game, and we were just like 'We have this game, one of them will fall for us if we keep playing well'."

However, Cameron says the Dynamo form revival actually began on the last day of the regular season at the same building they must successfully invade to earn a return trip to MLS Cup. 

"Beating Chivas USA gave us some confidence and helped us out a lot going into the playoffs," he noted.

When it comes to playing with the necessary confidence, Cameron says much of the team's emanates from veteran netminder Pat Onstad - perhaps even more so in his individual case.

The Massachusetts native, a natural midfielder who has spent the majority of this season as a center back, says the three-time MLS Cup champ is both a willing tutor and a faithful bacon-saver at the back. 

"He gives you confidence," said Cameron. "If you screw up, he's there to cover your butt."

"He's a guy who's proven himself. In my opinion, he should have been up for Keeper of the Year and he wasn't even in the top three, which is absolutely ridiculous. If you look at some of the saves he's made this year, it's just amazing."

"The knowledge of the game he has, the experience he has really helps me become a better player and how to position myself in certain situations," he added. "He takes the time to teach me things, or the way he wants me to play and direct forwards to cut down on angles. It's truly an honor to play in front of him."

Cameron is expected to be in the backline against the Galaxy, leaving him the daunting task of helping to corral the two biggest stars in MLS, David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Houston certainly seemed up to the task this term, with Los Angeles managing just one goal in two regular season meet-ups.

"You've got to be aware of Beckham," sighed Cameron, perhaps imagine a wickedly swerving cross from the flank or delicately placed long diagonal ball.

"You don't come across a player like him that can put the ball anywhere he wants. You have to be more on your toes and you have to position yourself in a better place."

"And then you also have to watch out for Landon," he says, piling on another tall task with his tone. "He's going to be running at people and he's a great player all around."

"Then again, they need to watch out for our team as well," asserted Cameron. "I think it's two solid teams and it's gonna come down to who wants it more and who can put the ball in the net."

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners.

Official MLS Jerseys at WSS!