Auburn football is ready to renew its rivalry with No. 17 LSU on Saturday.

It will be another day in the SEC as Auburn will face a quality defense. LSU ranks No. 1 in the SEC in yards allowed per game (256) and rushing yards allowed per game (88), and ranks No. 2 in points allowed per game (14.7) and sacks (27).

Auburn head coach Alex Golesh understands that his offense will have its hands full on Saturday.

"Up front, (LSU's) edges are real and create a ton. Second level is really, really good. With seven (Whit Weeks) out, there's depth there, and then these corners can roll. They're big, physical, and run," Golesh said of LSU during Monday's press conference. "It's a really, really good football team that we're preparing for. We're fortunate to be playing at home."

LSU has a tough defense, but Auburn has the tools to combat it. Here are three keys for Auburn's offense to find success on Saturday against the Bayou Bengals.

Auburn's offensive line must protect Byrum Brown

For the third week in a row, Auburn will face a defense ranked in the top three in the SEC in sacks and is 1-1 over those two previous games. LSU ranks No. 2 in the SEC in sacks with 27, three fewer than the top team, Tennessee. Auburn's line will be challenged, but it must keep quarterback Byrum Brown clean as often as possible so he can make plays that could lead Auburn to a win.

Auburn's receivers must make plays

Key No. 1 bleeds into key No. 2. If the offensive line protects Brown well and Brown makes smart throws, LSU could be in trouble. In LSU's two losses this season, their defense allowed Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss to pass for 363 yards and Kentucky's Kenny Minchey to throw for 246 yards. In LSU's five wins, their defense allowed no more than 129 passing yards.

If Keshaun Singleton, Chas Nimrod, Jeremiah Koger, Jake Johnson, and Arlis Boardingham can combine for 200 receiving yards, it will boost Auburn's chances to win.

Auburn must run, run, and run some more

Auburn outrushed Georgia last week, and it led to a win. The game plan for Byrum Brown and his designed runs has changed over the last several weeks, and he has now reached the 100-yard rushing mark in two straight games; a third straight game could do wonders for Auburn's chances. Mixing in Brown's efforts with solid performances by Jeremiah Cobb and Omar Mabson, Auburn will be tough to slow down on Saturday.