De La Salle’s soccer team wants to play the best.

Just look at the Pilots’ schedule. They opened the year by hosting a tournament that included 2009 Division 1 runner-up Holt, Rochester Stoney Creek, Rockford, Livonia Churchill and Anchor Bay.

On Thursday, DLS will take on Plymouth Salem, a state semifinalist last year.

But in between, the Pilots played one of two Catholic League-mandated crossovers against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. DLS prevailed 8-0.

Later in the year, De La Salle will take on Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard.

Those crossovers do not fit with Pilots coach Thaier Mukhtar’s mind-set in which he views the non-conference schedule as good preparation for the rigors of the Catholic League Central – featuring heavyweights Brother Rice and Detroit Catholic Central – and the state playoffs.

Mukhtar figures to be the best, the Pilots have to play the best.

The crossovers don’t help him achieve that goal.