Today, the Soul (15-3) will appear in its first ArenaBowl. The opposition: the defending champion San Jose SaberCats (13-5), who are after their fourth title in the last seven years.

This meeting at New Orleans Arena will be the second of the season between the teams, and if their game in San Jose on April 12 is any indication, the rematch promises to be intense.

The Soul claimed a 58-57 victory after SaberCats kicker A.J. Haglund missed a 48-yard field goal as time ran out. The Soul, who trailed by 33-14 at intermission, went up for good on a two-point conversion run by Clifton Smith with 10 seconds to play.

"We traveled to San Jose, and the first half we got our butts kicked," Soul coach Bret Munsey said. "We came out of the locker room a different team [in the second half]. It was the turning point for our guys coming together. Any time you can do that on the road, it's a special feeling."

The loss to the Soul left the SaberCats with a 3-4 record.

"We're just excited to get back to the ArenaBowl with a chance to win another championship," said SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb. "It's definitely been tough. I think we had a championship hangover. We started off slow and finished strong.

"The first game we had with Philadelphia, you can throw it out. You look at the film and see what things worked and what things didn't work. But we're not the same team, and neither is Philadelphia. I don't think you get to this point unless you've improved."

The Soul's Matt D'Orazio, the AFL quarterback of the year, agreed.

"We were excited that we won that game, and the way it went down to the last play," D'Orazio said. "But we know that was a long time ago."

While Grieb and D'Orazio no doubt will have major impacts on the game, Soul lineman Martin Bibla said the importance of his unit's role should not be forgotten.

"Every week, the outcome of the game is going to be based on the trenches," he said. "If you don't have protection, and if you can't win the pass rush, then you don't have a game."

ArenaBowl XXII

What: The Soul (15-3) vs the San Jose SaberCats (13-5).

When: Today at 3 p.m.

Where: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, La.

TV/Radio: 6ABC, ESPN 950-AM.

The skinny: Defending champion San Jose is seeking its fourth title in the last seven years. The Soul are making their first appearance in the title game.

   In a regular-season meeting in San Jose, the Soul got away with a 58-57 victory when the SaberCats missed on a 48-yard field goal as time ran out.

   San Jose has won 10 of 11 and eight in a row. The Soul have taken five straight and six of eight.

Key Players

For the Soul: Quarterback Matt D'Orazio (301 for 416, 1,331 yards, 72 touchdowns, four interceptions), and wide receivers Chris Jackson (140, 1,719, 49) and Larry Brackins (107, 1,395, 29).

Injuries: Soul defensive back Brian Mance, who has sat out the team's last nine games with a broken ankle, has been practicing but is doubtful for the game. San Jose will be without its top receiver, James Roe, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the divisional playoffs.

Did you know? Soul president and general manager Ron Jaworski was involved in another big game in New Orleans. He was the quarterback when the Eagles fell to Oakland, 27-10, in Super Bowl XV at the Superdome.

- Kevin Tatum

at 215-854-2583 or ktatum@phillynews.com.