The idea of the 4-8 Steamwheelers rallying to make the playoffs and then advancing to the ArenaCup Championship game might seem as far-fetched as clean-cut road roomies J.J. Raterink and Jesse Schmidt waking up with a tiger in the bathroom and a baby in a closet.

But, hey, the fellas have some serious motivation to put the season back together now.

The ArenaCup will be handed out in Las Vegas.

The league on Wednesday announced a deal to play the 10th anniversary season's title game at the Orleans Arena, a few miles from the Vegas strip.

It will be the fourth neutral site Cup contest in the past five years with past tilts having been staged in Shreveport, La., and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

AFL title games were held at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in 2005 and 2006.

Dent autographs, jersey auction

Former Bears great Richard Dent will be selling autographs in the i wireless Center lobby before and during Saturday's Steamwheelers game.

After the contest, the club will auction special jerseys to help underprivileged youngsters get flu shots from Genesis Health System.

Dent will be selling autographed memorabilia for between $40 and $250.

The Logan Nolin Band also will perform before the game and at halftime.

Wheelers' Peters not expected back

Q-C receiver Kris Peters has yet to rejoin the team and Coach Troy Biladeau said he likely won't be back before the season is over.

"He doesn't want to come back right now," Biladeau said. "I would imagine we won't see him."

Biladeau said fullback Russ Monk will return from an ankle injury Saturday, although Jermaine Petty will continue to start at the position while also joining the defensive line rotation with end Andre Reed now out with a mild ankle sprain.

"He has played really well at fullback," the coach said of Petty.

Around af2

- Keita Iizuka, an Amarillo Dusters kicker who initially was feared paralyzed after a head-first June 6 collision with the side boards, will be transferred this week to a Houston rehabilitation center. Iizuka can move his limbs but has been hospitalized with a neck injury since the incident. He is able to text message.

- Amarillo Dusters owner Randy Sanders said he has rejected overtures from three out-of-town arenas to relocate his football and hockey teams. He seeks improvement on attendance averages of 2,197 for football and 2,035 for the Central Hockey League Gorillas.

Saturday's matchup

Manchester Wolves (5-7) at Quad-City Steamwheelers (4-8)

When/where: 7 p.m., i wirless Center, Moline.

Radio: WXFN 1230-AM

TV: The game is available via web cast at steamwheelers.com

Last week: Milwaukee 60, Steamwheelers 41; Manchester 59, Mahoning Valley 53

Previous meeting: Steamwheelers 50, Manchester 48 on May 9 in New Hampshire

About the Wolves

Mike Potts, a training camp cut of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has assumed the quarterbacking reins the past three weeks following the trade of James Pinkney, who beat Potts out in af2 training camp. Potts has thrown nearly half as many interceptions, six, as touchdowns, 15, and is 1-2 as the Manchester starter. ... Manchester is one of four 5-7 teams in the running for the final two American Conference playoff spots. All four lead the Steamwheelers by a game, although the Wheelers would hold head-to-head tiebreakers over Manchester and Milwaukee if they catch both this weekend. ... Manchester is seventh in the league in scoring defense. The Steamwheelers are 18th in scoring. ... Manchester's turnover margin is plus-5. The Steamwheelers are minus-8.