Earlier this year, after Arizona's annual preseason scrimmage, freshman quarterback Keith Smith said he had an end-of-the-season fantasy.

"I would love to be in a big game and make the play to win it in front of a packed house," Smith said. "That's why I want to play college football. The excitement, the pressure, everything would come together."

Unbeknownst to Smith, that opportunity would come numerous times throughout the season. Yet even after seven starts, the 20-year-old quarterback gets nervous when thinking about the "biggest game of his life."

"I can't believe this game is here already," Smith said. "I never imagined the amount of intensity. I didn't even know if I would be playing quarterback when the season started."

When Arizona (5-5 overall, 3-4 in the Pacific 10 Conference) hosts Arizona State (10-0, 7-0) it may very well be the biggest game of any of the players' careers, on both sides of the ball.

For Arizona State, which has already clinched a date with Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, the game gives the team a shot at an undefeated season, a chance at the national championship and perhaps, more importantly, revenge against the team that ruined its bo wl chances a season ago.

For Arizona, a win keeps the teams' hopes alive for an Aloha Bowl berth, gives the Wildcats a winning season and perhaps gives ASU its only blemish of the season.

That has almost doubled the intensity that normally swirls around this rivalry.

"Arizona State is the biggest challenge we'll have," Arizona head coach Dick Tomey. "(As coaches) you know how your guys are going to play because they will be emotionally ready. Whether that is good enough to win or not remains to be seen."

The Wildcats will probably be playing the best opponent they have faced all season. Arizona State leads the conference in total offense, total defense scoring offense and scoring defense.

Sun Devil quarterback Jake plummer is the second rated quarterback in the conference, running back Terry Battle is the fourth leading rusher, wide receiver Keith Poole is the fourth leading receiver.

Defensively Derrick Rogers leads the conference with 22 tackles for a loss, linebacker Scott Von der Ahe is fourth in total tackles with 102 and Pat Tillman is second in the conference with four interceptions.

And those are just a few of the big names. ASU is solid all the way around from the offensive line to the defensive front, the secondary to the wide receivers. If there is a weakness on the Sun Devil team, Tomey cannot find it.

"They don't have many weaknesses," Tomey said. "I don't think undefeated teams do. They are solid everywhere. Their offensive line is the best we'll play against. The defense is what has really keyed them. Derrick Rogers has made a tremendous difference."

When looking at the statistic sheets, it appears as if Arizona is out-classed at almost every position. But fans of the series will know that in this game, you throw out the stats.

"You throw them all away, they don't matter," Smith said. "All I'm focusing on is winning and getting us into a bowl and about giving them a loss.

"I just want to win and I'm going to try my butt off to do it."

Arizona is coming in off of its best game of the year, a 35-17 victory over UCLA. In the game the Wildcat running attack was spurred by the slashing of tailback Leon Callen, the competent passing of Smith and the inspired play of the defense and the speci al teams.

"That was the best game we have played all season," Tomey said. "But I think the emotional level will be better this week than last week. You have to go out with a lot of confidence and it has to last the whole game."

Arizona's Smith has the weight of the game on his shoulders, but he should expect some help from other players. Yet that may be difficult to come by if the offensive line, which is still banged up, cannot give him protection and up some holes for the runn ing game.

Tailback Gary Taylor is the starter, but may still be slowed by an ankle injury he suffered against UCLA. Freshman Leon Callen may be there to pick up the slack, however. Callen rushed for 116 yards on 22 carries last week.

Wildcat receivers Rodney Williams and Jeremy McDaniel have also picked up their receiving pace after senior Richard Dice was injured earlier this season. McDaniel has 29 receptions for 553 yards this season while tight end Mike Metzler has 23 for 291 yard s. Williams is third on the team with 21 receptions.

Defensively, Arizona is led by senior defensive lineman Joe Salave'a who has a team-leading seven sacks this season. Salave'a scored the touchdown off of a forced fumble to tie ASU at 28-28 last season. Arizona went on to win the game 31-28 on Jon Prasuhn 's field goal with under a minute to play.

Linebacker Chester Burnett and cornerback Chris McAlister are also impact players on the defense.

"ASU is going to come into our stadium with more confidence than they have ever had," Burnett said. "But our team has confidence also. We know in our hearts we can beat them."

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