Since 1999, the Richmond Kickers have enjoyed a "friendly" match with their Major League Soccer neighbors from the nation's capital.

D.C. United has visited University of Richmond Stadium eight times and will do it again tonight at 7.

But the current three-year contract is up after this year, and nothing has been put in writing for 2009 and beyond.

No worries, mate. At least that's the feeling of Tom Depcrynski, president of the Kickers.

"I just got an e-mail from them this week, that they would like to continue to play us in the future, and we don't see any roadblocks," Depcrynski said.

The Kickers have played the Black and Red three times in U.S. Open Cup matches, while the other five have been "friendly" exhibitions. The most recent was last July when Richmond beat D.C. United's reserve squad 3-2. The series is tied 3-3-1 (one was terminated by weather).

It will be interesting to see which players the MLS team sends tonight. D.C. United is coming off a pair of CONCACAF Champions' Cup games against Harbour View (Jamaica) and will open its regular season next Saturday at Kansas City.

"I would imagine, going forward, it's more likely that we'll be playing their reserve team," Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw said. "Especially if it's an exhibition game. The reserve players are always looking for exhibition games.

"With MLS schedules these days, it's difficult to schedule any games, whether it's during the season or preparation for the season."

The most recent contract was arranged through a deal that sent midfielder Clyde Simms to D.C. United for cash and three exhibitions. Simms is expected to be on the field tonight, although he's started both of the Cup games that the Black and Red won by a 6-1 aggregate.

"I guess our motivation is to find the new Clyde Simms so we can continue to bring in D.C.'s best team," Cowlishaw said.

"I think we'll see a mix of their starters [tonight] and some players on the fringe. Not everybody but a good, solid group."

Midfielder Mike Burke, for one, hopes the Kickers will keep playing D.C. United.

"I think it's good for the fans," Burke said yesterday before practice. "I think the kids want to come see D.C. United. I think it's not so good for [D.C.] when we keep beating them. We're doing pretty well against them, aren't we?

"These games are always tough to measure because those guys don't necessarily want to be here playing in this game and we do. We're always amped up to play them. Just like when we play college teams. They're amped up to play us, but it's not the same for us."

The Kickers won't be at full strength tonight. Defender Kevin Knight and midfielder Sascha Gorres aren't expected to play because of minor injuries. Cowlishaw's team has only practiced outside three times, he said.

Richmond doesn't open its regular season until April 19 when Western Mass comes to UR Stadium.

Three recent signees should get plenty of time on the field. They are defender Adam Chavez and midfielders Eliot Paschalis and Adrian Bumbut, who is a native of Romania and a member of the Richmond Kickers Future in 2006.

Bumbut, who starred four years for Liberty, was a second-round draft choice of the Chicago Fire (MLS) in the supplemental draft this year.