Hawai'i's Colt Brennan intends to lead the highest scoring team in the nation against Nevada's patented pistol offense in a matchup with all the makings for an Old West shootout when the No. 13 Warriors invade Mackay Stadium tomorrow on ESPN2.

The Wolf Pack went four overtimes before succumbing to perennial Western Athletic Conference power Boise State 69-67 last month — an NCAA record for total points scored in a game that lasted 3 hours and 56 minutes.

But it's undefeated Hawai'i (9-0, 6-0 WAC) that is making this season's bid to crash the big boys' party and make a splash in the BCS like the Broncos did with a thrilling upset of Oklahoma in last year's Fiesta Bowl.

"They are as good as advertised. Undefeated, one of the best teams in the country," Nevada coach Chris Ault said.

"It's going to be a heck of a game," said Ault, whose own team is 18-4 at home since the winningest coach in school history returned to the sidelines four years ago and enters the game 5-4 overall, 3-2 WAC.

Brennan said he plans to start despite being knocked out cold in the fourth quarter of last week's 37-30 victory over Fresno State. Hawai'i coach June Jones also said he also expects Brennan to play.

Brennan has thrown for 3,296 yards and 28 TDs this season and ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency.

Just one touchdown against Nevada and Brennan will set a new NCAA Division I record of career touchdowns. He's now tied at 135 with BYU's Ty Detmer. He also has thrown TD passes in 34 consecutive games, one shy of Detmer's record.

In addition to averaging 50.2 points per game, the Warriors rank second nationally in passing offense (454 yards per game) and third in total offense (534.3). Brennan's three leading targets also are leading the WAC in receiving yards — Ryan Grice-Mullen (120.0), Jason Rivers (95.4) and Davone Bess (94.0)

"In terms of a passing game, we haven't faced an offense like this all year," Ault said.

The Wolf Pack, ninth nationally in total offense (494.4), counter with Ault's pistol formation — a hybrid of the shotgun where the quarterback stands only a few steps behind the center with a lone offset back. The change has fortified a once anemic running game with Luke Lippincott averaging 117 yards per game, best in the WAC and 17th in the NCAA.

Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forced into action when starter Nick Graziano went down last month, also is a threat to run.

A lanky loper who was recruited to play baseball at Michigan and Notre Dame, he is averaging 66 yards rushing per game to go with his 178 yards passing and a passing efficiency that ranks 10th nationally.

Unfortunately for Nevada, strong rushing attacks have found it difficult to stick to their game plan when Hawai'i averages scoring 13 points in the first quarter, 26.7 by the half.

Last week, the Warriors jumped ahead of Fresno State 21-0.

"Hawai'i is very capable of doing that with that offense," Ault said. "They got those early scores and Fresno had to play catch-up."

Jones said his team is in for another tough contest in a closing stretch that sees the Warriors finish the season at home against No. 17 Boise State and Washington.

"I think they're as physical, maybe even more physical up front, than Fresno," Jones said of the Wolf Pack. "We'll have to play a very good game to beat them."

Nevada has an advantage of coming off a bye week and a chance for some banged up players to heal, especially on defense where safety Jonathan Amaya is expected to return after missing four weeks with a knee injury.

"We've missed him dearly. He is a veteran player and we need all the help we can get back there," Ault said. "With his presence we feel we can do certain things we just haven't been able to do. On the defensive side of the ball, that was a key for us."

The weather also could benefit Nevada, with the game time temperature expected to be in the upper 40s.

But don't try to tell that to Brennan, who prepped at Irvine, Calif., before moving to the islands.

"Everyone talks about the conditions. I think everyone on our team is tired of hearing about it," Brennan said.

"When you get out there on the football field, you're running around. Your body temperature rises up. I love playing in the cold. I played some my best football in the cold," he said.

"So I'm dying to get out there Friday because I really want to play because I think I can have a really good day."