KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman Kim Glass and the Wildcats play a pair of critical matches this weekend when they play host to No. 1 Southern California tonight and travel to Los Angeles to face UCLA tomorrow night.

The Arizona women's volleyball team has won four out of its last five matches, but those wins have not been against the best competition that the Pacific 10 Conference has to offer.

That will change tonight, when the No. 16 Wildcats take on No. 1 Southern California (22-1 overall, 15-1 Pac-10) on their home court.

The Wildcats are 1-8 against No. 1 teams under head coach David Rubio.

"I don't think we have to play out of our minds to win," freshman middle blocker Bre Ladd said. "We have to play our game and be consistent."

Tonight's match will be followed by a trip to Pauley Pavilion against No. 21 UCLA tomorrow night.

The Wildcats were swept by the Trojans in early September, but Rubio said the Wildcats are a different team and he is looking forward to seeing where they match up against two of the best teams in the Pac-10.

"We haven't played these teams for almost three months," Rubio said. "We are a different team, and it will be a good test to see where we stand."

With the Pac-10 season concluding this week for the Wildcats (15-9, 10-6), these two matches will have huge implications on the final conference standings as well as seeding for the NCAA tournament.

Rubio said he predicted the Wildcats to finish third in the Pac-10, and that can become a reality this week.

Currently, the Wildcats are third in the Pac-10, one win ahead of Washington State (19-7, 9-7) and two matches ahead of the Bruins (15-12, 8-8).

Wins over USC and UCLA would give the Wildcats third in the conference, and they would more than likely be rewarded with a No. 3 or 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

However, two losses could possibly drop UA to fourth in the conference, which would hurt its seeding position.

The main concern for the Wildcats during their trip to Los Angeles is the health of freshman Kim Glass, who is hampered by a strained calf.

Rubio is taking her condition day-by-day, but he expects her to start this evening.

Rubio said playing USC is a big challenge, but he is more concerned about the way the Wildcats are going to respond to playing the Bruins tomorrow night.

"It is my job to guard against that," Rubio said. "Twice this season we have had tough matches against Stanford and then had to play California the next night. I think that we will be prepared to play the Bruins win or lose against USC."