LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The San Jose SaberCats will win the Arena Football League's toughest division and go on to take the ArenaBowl, according to a poll released by the Arena Football League Writers Association.

All four Western Division teams were picked to make the playoffs, with the Arizona Rattlers finishing third overall, the Los Angeles Avengers fourth and the Las Vegas Gladiators seventh.

San Jose was picked to win its second title in three years. The SaberCats are led by stars such as quarterback Mark Grieb, defensive specialist Clevan Thomas, offensive specialist James Hundon and two-way players James Roe and Barry Wagner.

The defending champion Tampa Bay Storm were picked second. Also chosen to make the playoff field of eight teams were the Orlando Predators at No. 5, the Georgia Force at No. 6, and the Dallas Desperados and New York Dragons, who tied for the eighth spot.

Only Arizona had more than one selection to the preseason All-AFL Team – fullback/linebacker Bo Kelly and wide receiver/defensive back Randy Gatewood. The other wide receiver/defensive back was Dallas' Will Pettis.

New York's Aaron Garcia was selected the quarterback, Tampa Bay's Lawrence Samuels the wide receiver/linebacker and Los Angeles' Chris Jackson the offensive specialist.

Two of the three linemen were from expansion teams – Tom Briggs of the Austin Wranglers and B.J. Cohen of the New Orleans VooDoo. The other lineman was John Moyer of the Chicago Rush.

San Jose's Clevan Thomas and Orlando's Kenny McEntyre were the defensive specialists, and Clay Rush of the Indiana Firebirds was the kicker.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director.