The Arizona men's tennis team will hit the road and take on Arizona State this afternoon in Tempe, which could be considered a home away from home for many of the Wildcat players.

UA head coach Bill Wright said besides playing at ASU once a year, many of the players play in tournaments in the Phoenix area and feel right at home.

That will be important because Arizona has lost two straight road matches and is looking to get back on the winning track against its in-state rival.

The 50th-ranked Wildcats (5-3 overall, 0-2 Pacific 10 Conference) lost both matches to the No. 48 Sun Devils (3-4, 0-2) last season 1-6, but Wright said he expects it to be a very close contest.

"We are very evenly matched," Wright said. "Both teams are looking for a win and the team that comes out just a bit sharper is going to come away with the victory."

Both teams have had two weeks off since being swept by the L.A. schools, which Wright said should pave the way for a great match.

This is a very pivotal match for two teams looking for their first conference win of season.

The loser of this match will find itself 0-3 in conference, with an uphill battle just to get back into the league's top five.

Wright said this is the perfect time to play against ASU, as the team is always a little bit more juiced to face its in-state rival and prove who the best team is in the state of Arizona.

Junior Whi Kim, Arizona's top player, has faced the reality that playing at the top position is going to be a tough challenge, all while knowing that his overall 3-4 mark is not indicative of his capabilities.

Kim dropped out of the most recent rankings, but said he is still confident in his ability heading into this afternoon's match.

With Kim battling at the top position, sophomore Colin O'Grady and freshmen Daniel Andrus and Roger Matalonga have been the strength of the Wildcats.

Matalonga is currently 7-1 in the season.

"We are healthy and ready to go," Wright said. "The two week break allowed us to practice hard, and we are fired up to play ASU."