HOUSTON - In preparation for next week's World Cup Qualifying final round opener, the United States faces visiting Canada on Tuesday at BBVA Compass Stadium. The North American rivals will meet for the third consecutive year after not facing each other from 2008-2010.

The friendly is part of a camp that started on January 7 and was mostly comprised of players from clubs with the USA's Major League Soccer.

"The players came into this camp very well prepared, they understood that we are not just doing a preseason camp, that we are not just building a bridge for their offseason," U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said on the US Soccer website. "We are here to prepare for an international fixture - most importantly, Honduras and the World Cup qualifier."

The road encounter against Honduras will take place on February 6 at San Pedro Sula's Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano; the stadium where the Catrachos defeated Canada 8-1 in a qualifier last October.

Though Klinsmann is expected to use many of his foreign-based players, who did not attend the camp, for the trip to Central America, he still views the last few weeks as crucial to the national team's continued development. Especially with the prospect of playing at least 10 World Cup qualifiers, plus July's CONCACAF Gold Cup, over the next 10 months

"Obviously we want to see players that step it up now and also want to be regarded as a key element for the Honduras World Cup qualifier, so there's a lot at stake for the players in this Canada game," commented the former German national team star. "With this really busy year in 2013, this opportunity to see these players in camp for three and a half weeks was more than worthwhile.

"It was really important because we have to build two rosters for the May and June period with World Cup qualifiers and then for the Gold Cup in July. Now we have a much broader vision and we have a much better understanding of how many players we have that we can bring to the international level."

While the U.S. is looking to the immediate future, Canada - which has been eliminated from Brazil 2014 qualifying - is taking a longer-term view.

On Saturday, the Maple Leafs dropped a 4-0 decision to Denmark in Tucson, Arizona, using a young side and giving six players their first international caps.

"The best way to get over a poor result is to get back on the pitch as soon as possible," said interim head coach Colin Miller. "We get that opportunity on Tuesday night against a very good USA side."

Though Canada is at the start of a rebuilding process and will continue to give playing opportunities to the younger players, Miller wants to see his team put in a solid performance against its neighbor.

"It's a local derby, so it's something to look forward to," commented the 48-year-old former Canadian national team standout. "If the players need motivating for a match like this, there is something seriously wrong."

The U.S. and Canada battled to a scoreless draw in their previous meeting last June. On Tuesday night, players on the respective teams have much to prove, but will do it for different reasons and motivations.