"A bond born on the Pop Warner fields of Dade County 20 years ago that is both friendship and rivalry will get its toughest test tomorrow at Candlestick Park.

Frank Gore started out trying to outrun Antrel Rolle as a youngster, spent three seasons at the University of Miami together pulling for him, and now will square off with his offseason workout partner for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

It's safe to say the relationship between the 49ers' Pro Bowl running back and the Giants' hard-hitting safety has never been challenged like it will be in tomorrow's NFC Championship.

"It's football. He wants it, I want it," the soft-spoken Gore said with a grin yesterday. "It's going to be fun. I know he's going to bring his A-game, and I'm going to try to do my best to bring my A-game, too."

Gore and Rolle are no strangers to facing each other in the NFL, considering Rolle spent his first five pro seasons in the same division with his former college teammate as a member of the Cardinals.

But never have the two pals had to top the other with a ticket to the biggest stage of all on the line.

"We talk, but we definitely didn't talk this week," Gore said of Rolle, who — along with the rest of the Giants' defense — will be intensely focused on stopping the Niners' workhorse back.

Handling Gore will be no small feat, especially if the forecasts for rain and mud tomorrow on Candlestick's notoriously sloppy turf come to fruition."