SLIPPERY ROCK — The NCAA Division II football playoff picture isn't nearly in focus yet.

Slippery Rock University coach George Mihalik is tuning in anyway.

"Most people will argue it's too early to be talking national playoffs," Mihalik said. "I disagree. Playoffs are what we still have in front of us.

"I want my players to be thinking about that stuff."

SRU (5-2, 2-2) was virtually knocked out of the PSAC West race with last week's 28-3 loss at fourth-ranked California (Pa.).

After hosting winless Lock Haven at 2 p.m. Saturday for homecoming at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium, SRU closes the regular season against Mercyhurst, Gannon and C.W. Post. Mercyhurst and C.W. Post are two of the other five PSAC teams still in playoff contention.

"We still have a chance to make a strong case for postseason play," Mihalik said. "We have to win out and that begins Saturday."

Lock Haven (0-7, 0-4) hasn't defeated The Rock since posting a 29-26 win in 1980. The Bald Eagles are 0-28 since edging Clarion, 17-14, in the final game of the 2007 season.

Lock Haven hasn't scored more than two touchdowns in a game against SRU since 1994. Sixth-year coach John Klacik is 5-57 at Lock Haven. His team has been outscored 190-13 in its last four games.

"We can't just show up and go through the motions," Mihalik said. "We're going from playing the fourth-ranked team in the nation to playing a winless team.

"Any coach has to be concerned about how his players are going to look at that," he added. "Lock Haven will come at us hard for 60 minutes and we need to be ready for that."

Mihalik hopes to spell workhorse running back Akeem Satterfield (778 yards, 11 TDs) with LaQuinn Stephens-Howling and perhaps Chris Darby every third series or so.

Ryan Sabo's go-to receiver Devin Goda (46 catches-519 yards) has a leg injury and didn't practice early in the week. Fellow receiver Geron James is out with a hamstring problem.

"If Devin can't go, we're down to four healthy receivers," Mihalik said. "One of those is (quarterback) Mike Bongivengo, who's been a real team player in moving to receiver for us."

Bongivengo has six catches for 71 yards in limited action.

Injuries at quarterback forced defensive back Ryan Faddish to step in behind center for Lock Haven at the end of last week's 42-7 loss to Gannon. Jarryd Burkett (733 yards passing) is the Bald Eagles' top QB, but his availability is in question.

Lock Haven has rushed for only 388 yards. The Bald Eagles rank 14th in the 16-team PSAC defensively, allowing 384 yards per game.

"They're struggling to find an identity on both sides of the ball," Mihalik said.

Those struggles may continue Saturday as Mihalik is 18-4 in Rock homecoming games.

The Rock leads the league in pass defense, allowing only 145 yards per game. Middle linebacker Zach Sheridan has had double-digit tackle totals in three of his last four games, including 11 tackles last week at Cal.

"Zach's been playing hurt, too, but there's no way he's going to miss a game," Mihalik said. "He's the true leader of our defense, along with (cornerback Robert Doiley)."

Klacik could not be reached for comment.