When the Phillies arrive at Yankee Stadium for this afternoon's workout, they will be fully aware of their surroundings and the historical implications of the 2009 World Series.

Not only do the Phils have a chance to defeat the most decorated franchise in American professional sports, but they can further solidify their own status as the top team in franchise history.

After the Yankees eliminated the Los Angeles Angels in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series late Sunday, the Phils were excited about their marquee opponent.

"There is a special mystique when you walk into Yankee Stadium, new or old," said Jayson Werth. "It's the cathedral of baseball, and where everybody wanted to play as a kid. It's Yankee Stadium. As far as that goes, there might be something to that and a little bit of motivation."

Manager Charlie Manuel was also looking forward to the challenge of playing against New York.

"Playing the Yankees, and who their names are, and what they stand for, that's enough to motivate you," he said. "I know when I walk into Yankee Stadium, the new ballpark now, it's almost like the old stadium except the locker rooms are better, bigger and everything. As far as the field goes . . . it's still got that same feel to it.

"It's just got an atmosphere, an aura about it. It is baseball, and you think about all the great players and great teams that they've had come through there. I'm sure our players feel that same way."

In Game 1, the Phils will face CC Sabathia, the ace whom they defeated in Game 1 of last year's National League division series against the Milwaukee Brewers. But Sabathia had pitched on short rest many times for the Brewers during the stretch run, so Manuel did not see that game as indicative that the Phils had solved the Cy Young Award-winning lefthander.

"At the end of last year, the day we beat him out here, he threw a lot of change-ups," Manuel said. "When he's really good, he pitches off his fastball. At the end of last year I thought he was a little tired."

Manuel also praised the Yankees' best hitter, Alex Rodriguez. A year that began with revelations of steroid use by the third baseman is ending with a strong postseason performance - his first in a complicated Yankees career.

"Ever since I've first seen him, he's always been a real good hitter," Manuel said. "He's one of the guys in the lineup you definitely, he's the one who comes into play, like don't let him beat you and stuff like that. He's having a good postseason, and he even proved to people he can hit in the postseason.

An outside expert on the series, current Dodgers and longtime Yanks manager Joe Torre, recently offered his own analysis.

"It's going to come down to who can control whose offense," Torre said. "Philadelphia, they do not lack for confidence. They can lose tough game after tough game. They're going to keep coming back at you. They're very aggressive. The Yankees, they have the mentality that they don't have to have the lead, that they can still beat you. So to me, I think it's going to be an entertaining series . . . It's going to be like a street brawl."

Opponent aside, the Phils are aware that they have already made club history by winning consecutive National League titles and could launch themselves into unprecedented status with another win.

"Everybody knows that this is something special," Werth said.

Hall of Famer Robin Roberts, whose "Whiz Kids" team lost to the Yankees in the 1950 World Series, has been watching intently and also views this era as remarkable.

"I really enjoy watching the games," Roberts, 83, said yesterday. "It would be awful nice to see them win it again, not just because it's the Yankees, but because they are bordering on something really extraordinary."

Contact staff writer Andy Martino at 215-854-4874 or amartino@phillynews.com.