ATHENS, Ga. -- Look out, Georgia. This year, it's the No. 14 Bulldogs who have the home-field disadvantage against Auburn.

In a series like few others, the home team's last victory came in 1991 when Georgia defeated the Tigers 37-27 at Sanford Stadium. Going back even more, the home team has managed only five victories in the past 23 meetings.

"I don't know how to explain it," Georgia coach Jim Donnan said, shaking his head.

On Saturday, the road warriors resume the South's oldest rivalry in Athens. Georgia (6-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) needs to buck history and beat the Tigers (4-5, 1-5) to have any chance of landing a New Year's Day bowl.

Two years ago, the Bulldogs were coming off the biggest victory of the Donnan era, a 37-17 rout of Florida, when they met Auburn between the hedges. The Tigers, then coached by Terry Bowden, romped to a 45-34 victory.

"Most of these guys were on the squad in '97," Donnan said. "They know what can happen when you're not ready to play."

This time, Georgia is trying to recover from a decisive loss to Florida. While the 30-14 defeat virtually eliminated the Dawgs from SEC title consideration, they would be in the running for the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl if they can win their remaining three games.

Clearly, a victory over Auburn is a must, since Georgia closes the season with tough road games against No. 18 Mississippi and No. 13 Georgia Tech.

"We can't think about that last game," offensive tackle Jonas Jennings said. "There's nothing we can do about it."

Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter has recovered from his second concussion of the season, this one inflicted by Florida. He had lingering headaches from the knock on his head but was fortunate to have an extra week to clear out the cobwebs.

When Carter looks at Auburn's defensive front -- seniors all the way across -- he worries about taking more punishment.

"That's one of the big concerns I have going into this game," he said. "Are we going to be able to protect me back there? We don't know yet."

Auburn quarterback Ben Leard must have similar concerns. He was knocked unconscious against Arkansas, forcing him to sit out last week's 28-10 victory over Central Florida that snapped a five-game losing streak.

Coach Tommy Tuberville wasn't sure if Leard could play against Georgia, but the junior said he was ready to go after getting clearance from his doctors at the beginning of the week.

Either way, the Tigers will have a quarterback who desperately wants to beat the Bulldogs. Leard is a native of Hartwell, Ga., while backup Jeff Klein is from the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta.

Klein started last week, completing 19 of 31 passes for 270 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

"Ben and I both have a tremendous desire to play in this game," said Klein, a redshirt freshman. "We want to win and we want to be able to go home with bragging rights."

Leard wasn't the only Auburn player trying to recover from a concussion. Center Cole Cubelic missed practice this week because of a hit he took against Central Florida, prompting Tuberville to declare it "the week of the concussion."

Like Leard, Cubelic expects to play against the Bulldogs, even though he was still suffering headaches and dizziness.

"I really didn't know it was going to be as big a deal as it is," he admitted.