The Pacific 10 Conference has historically been the nation's best conference for men's tennis, with this year being no exception.

Five Pac-10 teams are in the top 15, including UCLA, who is the country's top team.

The 48th ranked UA men's tennis team has enjoyed a 5-1 season up to this date, but it will get a glimpse of where it stands among the nation's top teams as the Wildcats travel to Los Angeles. There, they will take on No. 14 and defending national champion Southern California (4-2) tomorrow and top-ranked UCLA (6-0) Saturday.

The Wildcats began the season ranked 62nd, but they upset 30th ranked San Diego State two weeks ago, which has given UA confidence that it can play with any team in the country.

That notion was confirmed two days ago, when SDSU traveled to No. 15 Pepperdine and pulled the upset.

"We feel that we can play with any team in the country," UA sophomore Paul Warkentin said. "It will be a big test for us, but people don't realize how good this team is. I played at Ohio State last season and they were ranked 12th. This team is more talented."

Last season, Arizona was swept by the Los Angeles schools, but now it's looking for a chance to start its conference season with some upsets.

"We want to win both of the matches," UA head coach Bill Wright. "They are two good teams, but they are both beatable. We need to come out aggressive."

The big question for the Wildcats will be the health of its top player, junior Whi Kim.

UA was able to defeat Utah without its top gun, but the Wildcats will need Kim and the rest of the team to be healthy to have a chance to pullout victories.

"My foot is pretty sore," Kim said. "I will be ready to play this weekend. If we had to play today against USC, I would be ready. We are all ready to go to L.A. and begin the Pac-10 season."

Warkentin, a transfer from Ohio State, said that he came to Arizona to play against the best players in the country.

"I came to school here to play in the Pac-10," Warkentin said. "This is the best conference in the country, and every match in this conference is a battle."

Warkentin said that he truly believes that Arizona has a chance to crack the top 25 in the not-so-distant future.

This weekend may give UA the boost it needs to move up in the rankings.