"The Senators are ready for a pre-season instalment of the Battle of Ontario.

After a long off-season, the Senators will kick off the exhibition schedule Monday night against the arch-rival Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre at 7 p.m.

Goaltender Alex Auld, who re-signed with the club in July after spending the 2008-09 campaign here, will make the start and split the duties with rookie Robin Lehner. Starting G Craig Anderson is being left at home.

Up front, top prospect Mika Zibanejad is going to make his debut while Jared Cowen and David Rundblad are expected to be part of the blueline. Ottawa native Mark Borowiecki will be scratched along with Stephane Da Costa and Nick Foligno.

"This is the next level. It's going to be tough out there but I'm really excited," said Zibanejad, the club's top draft pick last June. "I'm trying not to think too much (about nerves). I'm just going out there to try to play my game.""