"It's exciting to go home and play for the fans," said Blaze star receiver Siaha Burley, who not only played for the Rattlers but also grew up in nearby Mesa, Ariz. "But I'm trying my best to focus on the football game, because I got caught up in all that — getting the family there and all that — last time. This time, I'm focused on X's and O's and doing my job to help the team win."

While the Blaze are in their first year of existence and the Rattlers are in their 15th, there already is a sense of rivalry between the two teams.

"It was a rivalry from day one," said Blaze WR/DB Orshawante Bryant, who spent four years with the Rattlers.

Quarterback Joe Germaine, another ex-Rattler now with the Blaze, says that rivalry talk is a bit premature.

"In a rivalry, wins have to go back and fourth," said Germaine. "They've got us by two games, the only two times we've played them. We need to make a little stronger showing to make it a real rivalry."

A playoff win by the upstart Blaze would certainly do the trick.

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AFL playoffs

No. 6 Utah Blaze (7-9) at No. 3 Arizona Rattlers (8-8)

Today, 3 p.m.

US Airways Center

TV: OLN

Radio: 1280 AM

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E-mail: lojo@desnews.com