The Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury have battled in a premier rivalry for the better part of the last decade.

On Friday, they square off for the first time in the 2018 WNBA season.

Both the Lynx and Mercury entered the season part of the short list of teams primed to make a title run, but they are off to slow starts (both 2-3). Though neither team has started off the way they would have wanted, the Lynx (defending WNBA champions) and Mercury (with All-Stars Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner) both have what it takes to get back on track fast. One team will do so in this anticipated matchup against each other.

“We can’t look at records; we just have to come out and play,” Griner said. “We know that when we go to Minnesota, and when they come to us, we will be giving each other our best shots. It is going to always be a really good game, with two teams really battling.”

The reigning WNBA MVP, Sylvia Fowles, has already posted a historic performance this season against the Dallas Wings, when she dropped 23 points and grabbed 20 rebounds while snatching five steals. But outside of her and Maya Moore (15.8 PPG), the Lynx aren’t getting the needed assistance from the depth in their roster so far. They rank ninth of 12 WNBA teams in Offensive Rating.

However, since stars like Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whalen have proven to be worthy contributors, the Lynx should right the ship quickly.

The Mercury, too, have questions to be answered.

Despite adding former WNBA All-Star and four-time All-Defensive First Team member Briann January from Indiana in the offseason, they have issues on the defensive side of the ball (105.9 DefRtg – 10th in WNBA). Phoenix figures to have the roster to get back on track.

The Lynx-Mercury rivalry has included a Semifinals matchup in five of the past seven seasons, with Minnesota winning four of those series. This season, the Mercury are determined to make another deep run in the playoffs. If history tells us anything, that will likely have to go through Minnesota.

“It’s been a rivalry for a long time,” Griner said. “This year I think we are loaded in all positions, we have a team that will force them to guard all of us. I think that is going to help us out when we go against them.”

Before they can worry about deep playoff runs this season, they have to get back on track sooner rather than later. Fowles vs. Griner, Moore vs. Taurasi — the matchups are too good to miss. Friday at 8 PM ET, they are back at it on ESPN2.