LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The top two teams in the latest Top 8 Poll face each other this weekend in a game that will not only affect the rankings but the playoff seedings.

The No. 1 San Jose SaberCats host the No. 2 New Orleans VooDoo. Both teams, each 9-2, received all the first-place votes in the latest poll, which was conducted by the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA). San Jose received 13 first-place votes and 118 points, and New Orleans had two first-place votes and 107 points.

Last week, the SaberCats defeated the Georgia Force 63-34, and New Orleans edged the Austin Wranglers 63-59. Austin (6-5) remained No. 7.

Up one spot at No. 3 was the Colorado Crush (8-4), which easily beat the Grand Rapids Rampage 69-30. That slot became open when the Los Angeles Avengers (7-4) routed the Chicago Rush 71-35. Chicago (7-4) fell two spots to No. 5, and Los Angeles moved up one to No. 4.

The Arizona Rattlers (7-5) were one of two teams new to the poll. Arizona entered at No. 6 following a 46-43 victory to drop the Indiana Firebirds (6-6) out of the rankings. Indiana was No. 8.

Also new were the Orlando Predators (6-5), who did not even receive a vote last week. Orlando beat the Dallas Desperados 64-49 to take the No. 8 ranking.

In addition to Indiana, the New York Dragons (6-5) fell out of poll from No. 6 following a 60-58 loss to the Philadelphia Soul.

Besides this week's marquee matchup, Arizona is at Los Angeles. In other games involving ranked teams, Philadelphia is at Colorado, Chicago is at the Detroit Fury (4-7), Austin is at Grand Rapids (1-10), and the Tampa Bay Storm (5-7) is at Orlando.

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.