Warren Central’s boys’ soccer team thinks it deserves to be mentioned in the conversation about the state’s best teams.

Scratch that. They know they belong in it.

Now, they just have to go out and prove it.

The Vikings (14-3-2) will take the long road trip to Northeast Mississippi on Tuesday to take on Tupelo (15-1-1) in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. It’s the first step in what they hope will be a lengthy stay in the postseason, and also a chance to make a statement as a program.

“Our mental attitude is a lot different. Some of our teams in the past, you’d step on the field with a Tupelo or a Madison Central and you’re already beat,” Warren Central coach Greg Head said. “This team feels like they can hang with anybody. I have eight seniors, and this team wants to play at that next level.”

Warren Central has its best record since the 2010-11 season, and is looking for its first playoff victory since the 2009-10 season. It finished second in Division 4-6A after losing to Clinton two weeks ago.

Tupelo, meanwhile, is also on a mission. The Golden Wave has a 55-9-7 record over the past four seasons but only two playoff wins to show for it. Both were in the first round.

The Vikings were respectful of Tupelo’s accomplishments, but not in awe. Tupelo came away with a 3-0 win when the teams met in December at the Northwest Rankin tournament, and WC’s players felt the game was essentially an even match.

“The first time, we were even. They got one goal on a penalty kick and one on a direct kick,” said Warren Central senior forward Nick Wright, who has eight goals and four assists this season. “The game was basically 1-0 if you count the good goals. We had plenty of opportunities, we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”

Another big challenge for Warren Central will be playing at Tupelo. Not dealing with the five-hour bus ride to and from the game, but rather the artificial turf field they’ll be playing on.

Turf fields are wider and faster than grass, making ball possession and passing more difficult since the ball skips across it rather than slowing down. The Vikings are 2-3-1 when playing on turf this season, with the three losses all coming to playoff-bound teams. The regular-season loss to Tupelo came on artificial turf, as well.

Head said Tupelo has a speed and size advantage that will be enhanced on the artificial turf, which will put more pressure on his squad.

“They’re fast and they like to run. They’re not ranked No. 3 in the state for nothing. They have a few big, tall guys that can go over our heads,” Head said. “We have a shot. We just can’t make mistakes. A good team will take advantage of them.”

Warren Central’s girls’ team will also face Tupelo in an opening-round game on Tuesday night.

Warren Central (7-7-1) has had an up-and-down season as its players have adjusted to new coach Jay Madison. He’s the program’s fourth coach in four seasons. The Lady Vikes have been to the playoffs each of those seasons, but have not won. In fact, the last time they scored a playoff goal was in 2012 against DeSoto Central. They’ve been shut out in each of their last three postseason trips.

“It’s been more having a new coach every season,” Warren Central senior sweeper Drew Barnes said of the team’s struggles. “You have to play a different style of soccer every year.”

The Lady Vikes, however, have made some strides. They won three consecutive games before being shut out in their last two leading into the playoffs. Mentally, they feel ready to challenge a Tupelo (10-3) program that has been to the Class 6A semifinals or championship game each of the last five seasons.

“I think we have a chance and that we can win,” senior midfielder Kylie McMaster said. “As long as we keep our head in the game, we can win. They’re a good team. A strong team. But I think we can take it.”