Auburn has a huge home game up next on Saturday, as No. 2 Georgia comes calling, and the Bulldogs will arrive with what has been a dominant defense in 2021.

Georgia ranks 1st nationally in scoring defense (4.6 points), total defense (178 yards), and passing defense (110 yards), and it is 4th nationally in rushing defense (68 yards).

If the No. 18 Tigers hope to pull off the upset, head coach Bryan Harsin said they’ll have to find a way to move the ball on the ground.

“They’ve done a really good job,” said Harsin during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference of Georgia’s run defense. “The teams they’ve played can run the ball. It’s important we do that. That’s what we want to do. … It comes back to the guys executing their assignments. … We say every single week it’s not that we’re changing anything from the philosophy we have, we’re just going against a really really good team. … When you play teams like that, you still have to find ways to run the ball and be effective.”

To run the ball against the Bulldogs, blocking senior nose tackle Jordan Davis is where the venture starts.

The 6-6, 340-pounder has 10 tackles, 3 tackles for losses, and 1.5 sacks this season, but those numbers don’t begin to tell the story about what kind of force he is in the trenches.

“I think he’s a physical player,” said Harsin of Davis. “What I see from him is what he’s doing is really important to him. … He wants to be great. He wants to be a force out there on the field. The way you prepare for him is you have to get guys on your team to give you the best look. … The scout team has to elevate their game and give you a great look so you can prepare for that.”

As far as his defense is concerned, Harsin is hoping to have one of his best players back Saturday.

Junior linebacker Owed Pappoe has missed Auburn’s last 2 games, but there is optimism that he’ll be ready for Georgia.

“Owen is doing things in practice,” Harsin said. “We hope to get him back here this week and get him ready to roll. … I know he wants to do that. I anticipate he’ll have himself in a position to help us this week.”