This time around, they’re playing for all the marbles

The Rush and Swarm haven’t played since the season opener. Georgia throttled Saskatchewan 18-10 that night. The teams resume pleasantries Sunday in Georgia when they open the best-of-three National Lacrosse League championship series. Here are five things

1. Can Saskatchewan three-peat?

The Rush have won two straight NLL titles. The only franchise to win three straight is the Rochester Knighthawks, who captured crowns in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Saskatchewan’s run for three has earned the respect of Georgia coach Ed Comeau.

“So many things have to align for that to happen,” says Comeau, whose team is playing in its first league final. “You have to avoid the injury bug, you have to keep your team intact, you have to find some new players to come in and breathe new life into it. So many factors. (Rush coach) Derek (Keenan), the staff, the players, get a lot of credit for building that team over a number of years.”

2. Is Corbeil back?

Saskatchewan captain Chris Corbeil missed both semifinal playoff games with a lower-body injury, but coach Keenan says he’s progressing nicely.

“Corbeil looks good,” Keenan says. “We’ll know more when we’re practising Saturday morning in Toronto. Right now, it looks promising that he’s going to play.”

3. On the attendance front

Playing lacrosse in Saskatchewan is a lot different than playing in Georgia, at least for atmosphere. Saskatchewan was second in the NLL, drawing an average 14,921 fans per home game, while Georgia averaged 3,950.

4. The series of brotherly love

One one side: Saskatchewan’s Jeremy Thompson. On the other side: his brothers Lyle, Miles and Jerome Thompson.

Lyle, especially, brings worldclass firepower. He collected a league best 116 points this season (including 45 goals), eclipsing league runner-up Mark Matthews of Saskatchewan. Matthews finished with 113 points.

5. On tap

Game 1 will be played Sunday, 3:05 p.m. Saskatchewan time, at Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth, Ga.

Game 2 goes June 10 in Saskatoon, with the third contest — if necessary — on June 18 in Georgia.