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[Bxl Boy]

Impact coach Bob Lilley said he won't be satisfied with a tie when his team opens it's two-game, total-goal A-League quarterfinal series tonight against the Rochester Raging Rhinos (7:30 p.m., CJAD).

"We're looking for a result," Lilley said before the team's departure for Rochester. "We feel that we've proved during the regular season that we're the beat team in our division and we want to put the pressure on them."

Lilley and the Impact are hoping to exorcise some demons in this series, which concludes Sunday when the Rhinos visit Claude Robillard Stadium (4 p.m., CJAD).

This is the fourth time the teams have met in the playoffs and Rochester has won the first three meetings.

"Last year is the only one that matters this time around," said Lilley. "The personnel is basically the same; there have been a lot of changes since the 1996 and 1998 series. Rochester has been the team to beat in our league, but we worked hard this year to finish first and I think it's our time."

There has been one significant change since last season, when the Rhinos won the series 1-0 after opening with a 0-0 tie in Montreal and then winning 1-0 at home. One of the Rochester stalwarts was midfielder Martin Nash, who is now a key member of the Impact. His playmaking ability could tip the balance in what has been a close rivalry.

Nash, who was part of two

A-League championship teams in Rochester, said the Rhinos have the ability to get up for big games.

"It's all about effort," said Nash. "The difference is that in the playoffs, everyone gives a 110-per-cent effort, while during the season, sometimes you come up against a team that doesn't give 100 per cent. The Rhinos have done well in the playoffs because as soon as they got into the post-season, everyone stepped it up a level, everyone gave a full effort and that was the difference."

But Nash said the Impact will have a bit of an edge because it posted a 2-1-1 record against the Rhinos in the regular season, with a win in Rochester.

"The Rhinos know we can beat them on their field, so it'll be in the back of their minds," Nash said. "We have to go there and get a result, whether it's a win or a tie, and then come back and finish the job at home."

Nash noted that there was little to choose between the teams last season.

"We (Rochester) held them to a 0-0 draw in Montreal and then won on a lucky goal by a defender," he said.

"It came down to a question of bounces," added Lilley. "We started at home and didn't get the job done; this time, the pressure's on them to start at home."

Ironman defender Gabriel Gervais is another Impact player who has seen action with the Rhinos and he said Rochester plays a physical style.

"They have an advantage going into some games because they intimidate teams with their style, but we've showed them this season that we won't be intimidated."