The Eugene Super Regional softball is set for this weekend, and the Pac-12 champion Ducks will have the luxury of playing at home at Howe Field when play begins.

Standing between No. 3 Oregon and the Women’s College World Series will be No. 14-ranked Nebraska, a Big Ten runner-up coached by former Duck player Rhonda Revelle. She has led the Cornhuskers to two WCWS bids — in 1998 and 2002.

Oregon head coach Mike White

Heading into the week of preparation before the Super Regional, the head coach seemed both confident and calm in his team.

“We know they are a good team,” he said. “They are very capable, they have some good power in their lineup and their pitcher is the Pitcher of the Year. It should be a good matchup, but I think we match up well with them.”

The Ducks faced the Cornhuskers early this season and came away with a dominant 11-2 win. Although the game was in a neutral setting, he believes wholeheartedly the early season matchup held no dividends in regards to series this weekend.

“Absolutely zero,” he said when asked if the Ducks’ familiarity with Nebraska gives them an edge. “It doesn’t matter a whole lot because we faced their number one, they faced our number one — but they are a different team around this time of year, just like we’re a different team this time of year.”

With regard to how the players are feeling heading into this weekend, there seemed to be a recurring theme comparable to “Win the Day:” From taking one pitch and one out at a time to not worrying about their perfect record at home, the veteran Ducks seem both anxious and well-prepared heading into the next stage of postseason play.

Infielder Courtney Ceo

“I definitely feel like I had a productive weekend,” she said. With regard to her health, she had this to say: “I’m working back slowly, but surely, and I’m definitely feeling better.”

Catcher Alexa Peterson

With the best batting average on the team at .453 heading into the postseason, she has been vital to the team’s success this season — both in the regular season and postseason. She is one of the few juniors on this Oregon squad and has personal relationships with two of the Cornhusker players, having played with them on a club team.

“I actually haven’t talked to (Hailey Decker) yet; I was going to call her tonight,” she said, “and see if she was scared of us, but her answer would be no. It will be a good competition for us, and I’m sure she’s really excited as well to be able to play at home and have her friends and family be there to support her.”

The Ducks have had the bragging rights up until this point, but both teams know they will be entering this weekend with a clean slate.