Realistically, it should be a showdown when Penn State's No. 1 fencing team faces off against Yale's No. 3 team at 10 a.m. tomorrow in New Haven, Conn.

But in the world of collegiate fencing, things are not always what they seem.

In College Sports magazine's preseason poll, the two teams held those respective rankings. But Yale Coach Henry Harutunitian would not consider placing the two teams so close together.

"When you compare the two teams, it's like comparing amateur fencers to professional fencers," he said. "Penn State has an advantage in that they can give out scholarships and we cannot."

But Penn State Coach Emmanuil Kaidanov is not so quick to hand the match to his squad.

"Yale has always had a good program and always gives us a tough match," he said. "I think (Harutunitian) is just being modest."

Also working against Yale is its recent loss last weekend to Ivy League-rival Pennsylvania.

But Yale may enjoy a home-gym advantage, said Lion foil fencer Jeff Feinblatt. Yale's gym can get very noisy, making it hard for the fencers to concentrate, he added.

"We're fencing on their territory and their gym is set up so that a five-member team can make the noise of a crowd of 10,000 people," Feinblatt said.

Kaidanov said Penn State must not dwell on the environment.

"The conditions are tough and Yale is used to them," he said. "It is not the most important thing, but it is something we must keep in mind."

As a team, Kaidanov said Yale has depth at all weapons. This is especially true in men's sabre, where the Bulldogs won the NCAA title last year. Kaidanov also said Yale's epee squad is traditionally strong.

Perhaps the biggest asset for Yale will be the presence of highly-touted Peter Devine, who finished 79th at the World Championships in Athens, Greece, last summer.

Devine is one of the highest nationally-ranked fencers that the Lions will face this season. He will more than likely face Lion Andy Gearhart in a rematch from two years ago, when Devine came out on top.

On the women's side, two possible problems exist for the Penn State foil squad. The Lady Lions may be without captain and All-American Olga Kalinovskaya, who is sick.

Also, the Yale women's foil squad defeated Penn State two season's ago, handing the Lady Lions their only loss of the season, and their first loss in four years.