Midfielder Carl Robinson expects Toronto FC to make the playoffs this season. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

A brand new season brings brand new hope for Toronto FC.

After slumping through their first two campaigns in Major League Soccer, the Canadian club begins the 2009 season Saturday night on the road against the Kansas City Wizards with expectations of making the playoffs for the first time.

Since joining the league in 2007, Toronto has slumped to a combined 15-30-15 record and has looked like anything but a playoff contender.

But a series off big off-season moves, particularly the addition of veteran Canadian playmaker Dwayne De Rosario, has Toronto FC players optimistic that they will be involved in the playoffs this year.

Anything less than that and the season will be deemed a failure, according to Toronto midfielder Carl Robinson.

"I've never been one to hide behind things. My target is we must get in the playoffs. If we don't get into the playoffs, I think we will have failed," the Welshman told reporters this week.

Considered one of the top players in MLS history, De Rosario, who turns 31 in May, has scored 51 goals during his eight seasons in the league and is a three-time all-star.

Won championships

He also has a proven track record, having won MLS championships with the San Jose Earthquakes (2001 and 2004) and Houston (2006 and 2007).

De Rosario, acquired by Toronto in a trade with Houston, is confident he can help turn the Canadian team's fortunes around and lead it to the post-season in 2009.

"That's why I came here. I didn't come here to relax in my hometown. I came here to do one thing and that's to win. If I don't do that, I'm not satisfied, regardless on how many goals or assists I get. My objective is to win," De Rosario stated.

Another addition to the Toronto FC roster is Argentine striker Pablo Vitti, on loan from Buenos Aires club Independiente. Vitti is expected to start up front alongside Chad Barrett, and coach John Carver said the chemistry in pre-season between the two forwards has been good.

"He won't get you the spectacular goal like a De Rosario or a Barrett," Carver said of Vitti. "He gets the ugly goals, the scruffy goals, inside the six-yard box. But strikers like that are worth their weight in gold."

Canadian Adrian Serioux is another newcomer, but the central defender is questionable for Saturday's game with a shoulder injury. Nana Attakora-Gyan, another Canadian defender, didn't travel with the team due to a hip flexor.

Carver said he has decided on his starting lineup for the season opener but is waiting to see if Serioux will be healthy enough to play.

"Adrian has only been with us for less than three weeks, so he hasn't had a full pre-season with us. He was behind the rest of the group because he had been doing rehab from an injury," Carver explained.

"He has been working very hard, but I have got to make a decision on whether he will be right to start the game on Saturday. If he is fit, he will play, But if he's not, I won't take a risk with him."

Carver was also coy about who will be his starting goalkeeper against the Wizards.

Greg Sutton was the team's No. 1 shot-stopper last season, but Brian Edwards started the first game of that season (and could again this year), while rookie Stefan Frei has looked impressive in training camp.

Wait and see

"I know who it is, but I won't announce that until I name the team. I don't want to show my hand to Kansas City, so you will just have to wait and see," Carver said.

"I have been delighted with the three goalkeepers and the competition has been very good and healthy between them."

Toronto's road record makes for pretty grim reading. Since its inaugural MLS season, the Canadian club has managed to win just four games away from the cozy confines of BMO Field.

That's not good enough for Carver, and the Toronto coach makes no bones about saying the team has to do better on the road to qualify for the playoffs this year.

"That's one of my goals this season: to pick up more points on the road. Our home record has been fantastic and it can still be better, but we need to do something on the road," Carver said.

After the Kansas City game, Toronto visits the MLS champion Columbus Crew on March 28, before hosting Seattle Sounders FC in its home opener on April 4 (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 3:30 p.m. ET).