It's unclear if a top 16 seed and the opportunity to host an NCAA Regional are on the line between Auburn and Alabama tonight, but the loser doesn't want to find out.

No. 13 Alabama (32-17, 12-12 SEC) and No. 15 Auburn (40-14, 11-12 SEC) are both on the cusp of national seeds, but first they'll face off in the first round of the SEC Tournament tonight (6:30 p.m., SEC Network) in Columbia, Missouri.

The No. 8 seed Crimson Tide are coming off a sweep of Texas A&M and are No. 15 in the RPI. The No. 9 seed Tigers won the regular season series on the Plains and are No. 17 in the RPI.

Both teams are carried by strong pitching and tonight figures to be another matchup of Alexis Osorio and Kaylee Carlson, both of whom were second team All-SEC selections.

With it being the fourth time in fives years the in-state rivals are meeting in the SEC Tournament, neither is fazed by the matchup coming in the postseason.

"Not getting inside of our heads will help a lot going after these next few teams we're about to play in the tournament," Auburn pitcher Makayla Martin said following Sunday's sweep of Chattanooga. "That'll be huge."

Alabama holds a 46-22 lead in the all-time series, including a 5-3 mark in the SEC Tournament, but Auburn has won seven of the last nine meetings, including in the 2015 and 2016 SEC Tournaments, which it went on to win.

The winner advances to face No. 1 seed Florida (46-8, 19-4 SEC) in the quarterfinals on Thursday (6:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network).

"If you win every inning, you'll win every game," Auburn center fielder Victoria Draper said. "If we play for that, winning every inning, then we'll be fine. We'll bring it home."

James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.