The ASU track and field time will duel it out with UA and NAU as it looks for desert bragging rights this weekend. But the real test will be who can stay healthy and gain momentum for the Pac-10 Championships, slated to begin in two weeks.
"With the conference meet two weeks out, there are certain things that you won't try to do this weekend," coach Greg Kraft said. "You have to win the war, not the battle."
Saturday, ASU will make its final trip of the season down Interstate 10 to compete in the 20th annual Double Duel in Tucson. Although the rivalry with UA will be renewed, there is more to this weekend then simply beating the Wildcats.
"It's also a time to really assess where you are physically," Kraft said.
ASU will look to avoid injury as well as sweep out any bugs that may be lingering from earlier in the season.
"No matter what issues we have, I know all the other teams have issues as well with health and people just lacking in confidence," Kraft said.
Still, this weekend will be a big test as they prepare themselves for the tougher meets that are to come.
"We have to keep in mind the overall context of the program," Kraft said. "You have to keep one eye on the national championship and another on the Pac-10 Championship and then still try to win your traditional duel."
In the recent past, ASU hasn't had much problem juggling these issues. The Sun Devils will come into this meet with a streak of victories.
On the men's side, they will enter with a three-year winning streak in the Double Dual, while the women will be defending their five-year streak.
The women will also enter the meet ranked seventh nationally by Trackwire.com and are favored to continue their streak.
But with the conference championships near, most of the attention will be looking ahead.
"When we train this long, even as coaches, you kind of want to just go ahead and play," Kraft said. "We need the two weeks, but I don't want to make it four weeks."
Reach the reporter at william.hayes@asu.edu.