Iowa's Jay Borschel shoots in for a takedown on Iowa State's Duke Burk. Photo by Tim Tushla.

Everybody is talking about another potential showdown between No. 1 Iowa and No. 2 Iowa State in the finals of the 2010 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.

The Hawkeyes edged the Cyclones 18-16 last month in Ames before Iowa followed by finishing just ahead of ISU to win the Midlands Championship just over a week ago.

Iowa and Iowa State headline a strong field for this weekend's National Duals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

"We would love another shot at Iowa, but we need to get past three other teams before we can worry about that," ISU coach Kevin Jackson said. "We need consistent performances up and down the lineup. We have to take care of business and wrestle to our potential even to get to the finals."

ISU opens with Bloomsburg on Saturday morning at 11. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 6 Cornell and No. 7 Maryland are on Iowa State's side of the bracket. The Cyclones placed third in the 2009 National Duals. ISU won this event in 2000. Cornell finished second last year.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes have won this event five times, including the past two seasons. Iowa will meet No. 15 Nebraska in the first round on Saturday at 9 a.m. No. 4 Central Michigan, No. 5 Minnesota and No. 8 Boise State are on Iowa's side of the bracket.

"You don't look ahead in an event like this," Iowa coach Tom Brands said. "We have to get ready for Nebraska and focus on the matchups we have against them."

The finals of the National Duals are set for Sunday at 3 p.m.

"If we get a chance to wrestle Iowa again, I'm confident we are going to wrestle better than we did in the last dual meet," Jackson said. "We need to bring our heart and soul to the mat and wrestle with intensity for seven minutes in every match to beat Iowa."

Iowa is expected to be at less than 100 percent this weekend. The Hawkeyes were without injured All-Americans Daniel Dennis (133 pounds) and Dan Erekson (heavyweight) at the Midlands, but still won the tournament.

Dennis, Erekson and injured starter Chad Beatty (197) may not be available this weekend.

If Dennis can't wrestle, freshman Nate Moore would likely jump into the Hawkeye lineup at 133. Moore, a prized recruit coming out of Iowa City West High School, placed sixth at the Midlands.

Blake Rasing has filled in for Erekson at heavyweight. He's 8-6 this season.

"There are some opportunities for some young guys at those three weight classes," Brands said. "We have some guys who need to step up and be ready to go."

Brands said Iowa likely will have NCAA qualifier Dan LeClere or sophomore Montell Marion in the lineup at 141. Marion placed sixth at the Midlands. Past NCAA runner-up Joey Slaton, a senior who placed third at the Midlands at 141, is not listed on Iowa's possible list of starters for the National Duals.

Iowa State likely will be without senior All-American Nick Gallick (141), who is still sidelined with an injury.

ISU has received a big spark from freshman 125-pounder Andrew Long, who has earned wins the past two weeks over 2009 NCAA All-Americans Brandon Precin of Northwestern and Zach Sanders of Minnesota.

"Andrew goes out there and gets after it," Jackson said. "He wrestles with intensity and with a high skill level. He gets a lead and tries to build on it. Nobody on our team works harder than he does. He's going to be special if he continues to do what he's doing."

Long has dropped two matches to another standout freshman, Iowa's Matt McDonough. Long fell to McDonough in overtime in the Midlands finals. McDonough is 15-0 this season.

"He's really stepped up," Brands said of McDonough. "He does the right things and gets himself ready to go. He's continuing to keep that edge and building on what he's done."

Iowa and Iowa State feature two of the nation's best wrestlers in Hawkeye senior Brent Metcalf (149) and Cyclone senior Jake Varner (197).

Metcalf won a 2008 NCAA title and captured the Hodge Trophy as the best collegiate wrestler in the country. Metcalf is 15-0 this season and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Midlands.

"Metcalf's been top-notch," Brands said. "He's always trying to score points from all positions. His matches are a physical brawl where he knows he's prepared to go seven minutes as hard as he can."

Varner won a 2009 NCAA title and made the U.S. World Team in freestyle at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Varner delivered a key win by fall in ISU's 19-16 win over No. 5 Minnesota on Jan. 3.

"Hands down, Jake Varner is the best college wrestler in the country," Jackson said. "There is no doubt he should win the Dan Hodge Trophy this year. He is the very best, by a lot, over any other college wrestler in the country. He's opening up and scoring more points. He's been very dominant."

Ohio State features three of the nation's best wrestlers in NCAA champion Mike Pucillo (184), NCAA runner-up Reece Humphrey (141) and All-American Lance Palmer (149).

The Buckeyes are 8-0 this season and won the team title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Ohio State finished second in the last two NCAA tournaments. The Buckeyes placed fifth at the 2009 National Duals.

"Our team is wrestling well," Ohio State coach Tom Ryan said. "The National Duals is an event we take extremely serious. We believe very strongly in the team aspect of the sport. It will be a great event. Bonus points will be a factor for the teams that go after it the hardest."

Humphrey is ranked No. 1 at 141 after bumping up a weight class this year. He's a past World University silver medalist in freestyle wrestling.

"Reece is an athletic wrestler with great skills," Ryan said. "He's made the transition with no problem. He has more energy now and he feels good."

Pucillo is ranked eighth at 184. He won an NCAA title in 2008 before finishing second to Northwestern's Jake Herbert last year. Herbert went on to a win a World silver medal in freestyle in 2009.

"Mike will be ready to go," Ryan said. "He is an outstanding second half of the year wrestler. Expect him to wrestle well."

Ryan acknowledged that Iowa, once again, is the team to beat.

"They have a very well-balanced lineup," Ryan said. "They are going to fight hard, no matter who they put out on the mat. You have to expect a war anytime you step out there against them."

In addition to Division I, the two-day National Duals will feature competition in Division II, Division III, NAIA, Junior college and women's college.

LiveSportsVideo.com will webcast the National Duals on both days.