This weekend, eyes from around the Southeastern Conference and the nation will be aimed squarely at the UGA Soccer Stadium, as the SEC East’s top three soccer squads descend on Athens for two matches that promise to be high in drama as well as postseason implications.

Tonight at 7, the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs (11-2-1, 4-2-0 SEC) do battle with the undefeated and No. 5-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (13-0-1, 5-0-1 SEC). On Sunday at 3 p.m., the No. 11 Florida Gators (10-4-1, 4-1-1 SEC) come to town for two games that could very well determine how the SEC East shakes down.

The Gamecocks sit atop the SEC East standings with 16 points, closely followed by Florida with 13 and Georgia with 12. For the Bulldogs, it’s no secret what two wins this weekend would mean for the team’s SEC tournament seeding and collective psyche.

“They’re really big [games], not only in our conference but in the region,” said senior midfielder Lindsay Stein. “These are two teams that, you know, they’ve always been good games in the past and we have somewhat of a rivalry against both of them. They are playing good soccer, but we’re playing good soccer, too.”

The last time the Gamecocks visited Athens in 2007, the Bulldogs earned a hard fought 2-1 win in a double-overtime thriller.

However, that was two seasons ago. Tonight, the Bulldogs will be taking on an unbeaten USC team that is arguably playing as well as any team in the nation. Through 14 games, the Gamecocks have scored 33 goals and given up just three and now lead the nation in shutouts (11) and goals against average (.21).

For a Bulldog team that struggled last Friday to capitalize on scoring chances in a 1-0 loss to Ole Miss and a 2-1 defeat of Mississippi State Sunday, that could spell trouble.

Though they know they are going up against one of the country’s stingiest defenses, the Bulldog players are confident that if they can keep producing scoring chances, the goals will come.

“The good thing about last weekend is that we had numerous, numerous chances in front of the goal,” Stein said.

“I think our offense is doing really well this year and we’re working well together, so I think that as long as we’re producing chances, I think that with the significance of the game, people will step up and make a play and get some goals.”

Despite a week of practice that was hampered by some less than favorable weather, Georgia head coach Patrick Baker likes his team’s chances going into the two-game weekend set.

“I think it’s been a good week. I think we’re in a good spot. I think some players definitely elevated their game this week and hopefully that’s reflected, not only on Friday but also on Sunday,” Baker said.