Last week, the Colorado Crush successfully dealt with the second-highest-scoring offense in the Arena Football League.

Tonight, the Crush must try to contain the AFL's top-scoring offense when it visits the Philadelphia Soul in a nationally televised game at the Wachovia Center (5 MDT, ESPN2).

The Crush improved to 2-1 on Friday with its 56-54 victory against the Arizona Rattlers at the Pepsi Center.

Philadelphia (2-0) is averaging 66 points a game and a victory margin of 31.

"It's a big test," Crush coach Mike Dailey said. "Philadelphia is an excellent team and has played at a very high level those two games they won. They had very decisive victories.

"It is a test for us to see where we are, and playing on the road is always a difficult thing. Hopefully, we can go and play well and do all we can to give ourselves an opportunity to win."

Colorado, which has notched its two victories by a total of six points, will need to continue playing solid defense until its offense gets on track.

Led by the AFL's leading tackler, defensive back Rashad Floyd, the Crush defense has allowed 46 points a game, fourth best in the league. Colorado ranks fifth in total defense, at 259.7 yards per game.

While Dailey is "happy that our defense is playing well," the Crush offense is another matter. The Crush ranks 15th in the 19-team league in scoring, with an average of 47.3 points a game.

"There are some factors there," Dailey said. "Obviously, (wide receiver) Damian Harrell is a star player who hasn't been able to play as much as he has in years past (because of quadriceps injuries). We're still getting used to the adjustment of the new rules with guys playing one way. We have some new receivers (Brad Pyatt, Willie Quinnie and Robert Redd), and this will be their third game with us."

While the Crush is hitting the road for the first time after playing its first three at home, tonight is the home opener for the Soul, which has produced convincing wins at Nashville and Grand Rapids.

Crush co-owner John Elway knows his team faces a big challenge.

"The teams (Grand Rapids Rampage, Kansas City Brigade and Arizona) we've played haven't been the highest caliber," he said. "If you look at the East, if you look at the powers, the top two teams are Dallas and Philadelphia. This is a good time for us to compare ourselves to see exactly where we are.

"Obviously, every game is important, but this is even more important, because we are going to find out exactly how good of a football team we are."

bentonj@RockyMountainNews.com