The St. Louis Billikens, who pull into Champaign in a free fall having recorded one win in their last six games, won't be a pushover for the No. 2 Illini.

Illinois hopes to add to the Billikens woes by sweeping all four points from them at the Ice Arena this weekend, especially because last season St. Louis handed the Illini their only regular season loss.

But for Illini junior forward Jim Rogers, it's personal.

"We have to get revenge," Rogers said.

Rogers is from Bethalto, Ill. which is near St. Louis, so he knows several players on the Billikens.

"There's been a lot of talk between (Billikens junior forward Jordan) Janes and I about who is going to win and I let him know that we are going to bury them in two games," Rogers said.

St. Louis does have a lot of raw talent on their team, Rogers said, and at 6-11-1 they are looking for their opportunity to turn around their season.

"We have to make sure this is not their weekend," Rogers said.

With two wins, Illinois can snag first place from hated rival Iowa State at the last home stand of 2003.

Since losing to No. 1 Penn State in the Big Ten tournament last weekend, the Illini have fine-tuned areas of their game.

"The things we're working on are communication and winning one-on-one battles," junior defenseman Ari Aberman said. "It's very important that we support each other and make the adjustments, if we do that, we're unbeatable."

He said he knows the Illini can't afford to look past St. Louis because they have beaten good teams in the league earlier in the year including No. 6 Ohio and No. 8 Iowa State.

"We (overlooked) them last year and it went on to bite us in the ass," Aberman said.

Illini head coach Chad Cassel said that St. Louis has a very good team but although they are in a slump, if the Illini don't play well, they won't win and have proven that over the season.

"We lost to a bad Kent State team and an average Eastern Michigan team — at home," Cassel said. "It's four points that we desperately need in league play."

He said he is looking for all four lines to play hard, but it is important for the defense and underclassmen to play strong this weekend.

In addition, the Illini will have to compete without senior forward Brad Eaton who will be out with a broken finger, and junior defenseman Brett Pachol, who is questionable because of a shoulder injury.

But Cassel isn't worried.

"It's alright, it just gives some other guys opportunities," Cassel said.

This weekend is Illinois' last set of games of the semester, and they would love to close out 2003 with two big wins and first place in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League.