Penn State men's rugby is comfortable with its role as an East Coast powerhouse. Numerous championship game appearances and a perfect record last fall will do that to a team.

This weekend, however, the squad will be forced to show some range and play a new role -- underdog, a designation that captain Tim Ryland has no problem with.

"I am fine by that, we are facing a talented team. Plus, we love having something to prove," he said.

The Ruggers (1-2) will need that confidence tomorrow afternoon when they travel to West Point, N.Y., for their heavily anticipated matchup with Army. Head coach Rich Pohlidal and his top-ranked squad will be set on payback after suffering a 20-15 loss to Penn State in Holuba Hall last year.

Tomorrow's match will mark the first action for the Ruggers since suffering two losses in the Red Rock Tournament on Feb. 17-18. In that time, Penn State coaches and players have noticed a progressive trend.

"We have taken some huge steps forward. Our physicality and aggressiveness have really picked up," Ryland said.

More specifically, the Ruggers have improved on the offensive side of the ball. With a system that relies on players to make good decisions and take advantage of open opportunities, Penn State scored at least 24 points in all nine games last fall. In the tournament two weeks ago, the rusty squad surpassed that total once in three games.

"Our system allows for a lot of freedoms and decision making on the part of the player, especially on the attacks," assistant coach Terry Ryland said. "In Utah, our decision-making wasn't as sharp, but we have gotten better."

Unfortunately, offense won't be the only concern for the Ruggers this weekend. Ryland, Penn State's starting center, will be a game-time decision as he recovers from a torn MCL.

"Tim does a lot for this team on both sides of the ball. He is an impact player on defense and he distributes the ball well on offense," Terry Ryland said.

The loss of a captain can hinder any team's chances against a tough opponent, but not one coached by Don Ferrell. The head coach of the Ruggers knows that he has no lack of leadership on this season's squad.

"[Tim] provides excellent leadership, but he isn't the only one. There are several seniors that are committed to winning. They can lead by example and provide that spark we need," Ferrell said.

Regardless of tomorrow's outcome, Ferrell knows that this experience will ultimately help his team when the playoffs roll around.

"To be honest, wins and losses aren't as important as progression right now. In the tournament, we got better and better each game," he said. "We are focusing on improving on both sides of the ball and getting fit, so that we can be ready in April."