In LSU’s indoor practice facility, signs that read “41-7” are posted by every exit, reminding Tigers players how badly they were handled in their last trip to Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium back in 2014.

Motivation should not be a factor for LSU.

Nor will it be for Auburn, where Gus Malzahn’s job is looking more and more in jeopardy after last week’s rather one-sided 29-16 loss to Texas A&M. And let’s not forget that despite having won a couple of games in a row and getting better quarterback play, the wolves aren’t far from Les Miles’ door either.

So motivation is covered on both sides. What else will play a key role in Saturday’s Auburn-LSU clash? Let’s look:

LSU

1. Stay healthy: This seems simple, but it’s been a challenge for LSU this year. In last week’s 23-20 win over Mississippi State, the Tigers’ offensive line used seven combinations of eight players because of injuries, including one that makes the status of right tackle Toby Weathersby questionable (unofficially) for this week. Besides that, star Leonard Fournette is banged up and the Tigers lost a couple of starters in August camp in defensive tackle Christian LaCouture and linebacker Corey Thompson. Some years, a team can go relatively injury-free. In others, it just seems to be “snake bit” by injuries as coaches often say. So far this year, LSU seems to be more the latter than the former.

2. Win the battle of “exes”: First-year LSU wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig came to Baton Rouge from The Plains, where he was quarterbacks coach last season. Craig, a former AU quarterback, knows Malzahn’s offensive system well. First-year AU defensive coordinator Kevin Steele had the same job at LSU last year and knows the Tigers’ defensive personnel well. Craig should be able to give new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda plenty of insight to the tendencies of AU starting quarterback Sean White and his receivers. Will that more than offset what Steele is able to bring to Malzahn and the Auburn offensive staff?

3. Finish what you start: In the fourth quarter this season, LSU has been outscored 20-0, giving up 14 unanswered points to Mississippi State last week to make what had been a blowout close. Is it because the Tigers relaxed on big leads the last couple of weeks? Is it because an LSU team that’s battled some injuries (see above) and late additions (nose tackle Travonte Valentine reported to camp late after getting his academics in order) is out of shape as a result? Whatever the case, LSU has to stay sharp for four quarters for what should be a competitive game on the road.

Auburn

1. Figure out your QB situation: Two weeks ago, Sean White was effective in a 51-14 win over Arkansas State. But in Week 1, he was part of a three-man merry-go-round in a loss to Clemson, and last week he was replaced late by John Franklin III, who proved to be more effective in the Texas A&M loss. Against one of the SEC’s best defenses, Auburn needs to figure out who the trigger man should be and ride with him. Malzahn announced that White will again get the start. Is he the answer?

2. Win the battle of “exes”: The same key for LSU applies to Auburn. LSU does have a talented defense, and nobody knows the group better than Steele. Is there a tendency about a player Steele can zero in on? Or does LSU’s familiarity of Steele’s tendencies in play calling give the Bayou Bengals the edge? Statistically and on paper, LSU’s defense has a personnel edge over Auburn. Can Steele’s intel even that out a bit?

3. Don’t be afraid of big, bad No. 7: LSU running back Leonard Fournette had his coming out party at Auburn’s expense last season, going for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 19 carries while, at times, making AU’s defenders look like they were backing down from him in LSU’s 45-21 win. Auburn’s defense has to compete better against Fournette, who has had to battle an ankle injury this year and has yet to produce a 200-yard game. If Auburn must over-commit to stopping Fournette, new LSU quarterback Danny Etling looks capable of making the Tigers pay in the passing game. It’s a challenge Auburn must not back down from.