The bright lights of the Convocation Center will be shining on NIU wrestling tonight.

NIU (3-2) will take on Purdue (2-4) in its annual NIU Showcase meet and its first home meet in nearly a month.

“It feels great to be back home,” said NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig. “Especially coming back home and having the match in the arena, where we know we will have great crowd support so the guys are looking forward to that.”

The Huskies return home for the first time in nearly month and are coming off of a 2-1 showing in the Hoosier Duals. Purdue enters the showcase coming back from a 1-3 weekend, recording its only win against No. 14 American University.

Despite its sub-par record, Purdue has had impressive showings early on this season. Three of its four losses so far have been against some of the top programs in the country – Missouri, Lehigh and Rutgers – who rank ninth, 10th and 16th nationally.

The match will be the second against a Big Ten opponent in five days and the team looks forward to facing more of the top talent in the nation.

“The team’s really fired up about the showcase event, just like they are every year,” Ludwig said. “It’s a first-class set-up: wrestling on an elevated stage under the spotlights, so that always gets guys really in-focus and ready to wrestle.”

NIU will have its hands full against the Boilermakers, who are some of the best wrestlers in the country.

At 125, Nick Smith will face one of his toughest opponents so far this season in Camden Eppert. Eppert was an NCAA qualifier last season, but Smith has been strong with an 8-1 record during this year’s campaign.

Purdue has another 2011 NCAA qualifier at 197 in 11th-ranked senior A.J. Kissel and a 2010 NCAA All-American at 133, Cashe Quiroga.

Quiroga is ranked eighth in the country at 133, but both he and Kissel are questionable to perform in the showcase.

NIU has an abundance of talent as well, with Brad Dieckhaus’ return at 184 greatly aiding the heavier part of the lineup. Dieckhaus is ranked 20th in the country in his class and is coming off of his season-debut, a 3-0 sweep at the Hoosier Duals.

Fellow NIU senior Mike Lukowski remains questionable at 197, where Arber Bebo could potentially fill in.

With a deep lineup, the Huskies still have not decided who will be grappling at certain positions.

At 141, both Kevin Fanta and Shawn Fayette have had success, while Dan Burk wrestled well against Indiana at 165 in place of Matt Mougin.

“At 141 and 165, we will be making a game-time decision,” Ludwig said. “We feel that we’ve got two capable competitors in both weight classes and we’re going to wait to see how the dual meet’s pl