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CHARLOTTE -- Carolina's much-maligned secondary will be tested again Saturday night when the Panthers (12-4) host their first playoff game in three years, against the pass-happy Arizona Cardinals (10-7).

It will be a rematch of an October game in Charlotte in which the Cardinals' Kurt Warner threw for 381 yards. It was the most yards passing given up by Carolina until the final week of the regular season, when Drew Brees of New Orleans torched their secondary for 386 yards.

The Panthers also allowed Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia to throw for 321 yards and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers 298.

But in what has defined the Panthers' turnaround season, they found a way to win all four games.

"We've won in every way imaginable this year, so we feel very confident going into the playoffs," safety Chris Harris said after they beat the Saints 33-31 to win the NFC South Division.

As the Panthers had their third straight day away from the practice field Monday, defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac was preparing a game plan for the Cardinals.

Warner's big day in Carolina's 27-23 win Oct. 26 began a trend that has seen the Panthers give up at least 22 points in seven of nine games.

With a former defensive coordinator as a head coach and a history of success on that side of the ball, John Fox's Panthers have become a team that plays high-scoring games. The Panthers have won by scores of 31-22, 35-31, 38-23 and 33-31 in the second half of the season by riding running back DeAngelo Williams and Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith.

Williams, who led the NFL with 20 touchdowns during the regular season, and Smith, who was third in the NFL with 1,421 yards receiving, may need monster games for Carolina to keep up Saturday.

Warner, 37, threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns in Arizona's 30-24 home win over Atlanta that featured a spectacular 42-yard touchdown catch in double-coverage by Larry Fitzgerald, a 6-foot-3 receiver who had seven catches for 115 yards against Carolina.

Anquan Boldin, who caught two TD passes against Carolina, had a 71-yard touchdown catch against Atlanta, but injured his left hamstring on the play. It's uncertain if the older brother of Wake Forest receiver D.J. Boldin will play Saturday night.

Arizona's other option, Steve Breaston, had nine catches for 91 yards against the Panthers.

"We had good coverage, but those receivers are big and strong," Panthers linebacker Jon Beason said of the first meeting.

While Edgerrin James rushed for 73 yards against the Falcons, Arizona ranked last in the NFL in rushing during the regular season and managed 50 yards on the ground in the first meeting with Carolina.

Facing a pass-first team means cornerbacks Ken Lucas, Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall and safeties Harris and rookie Charles Godfrey will be tested -- often.

Lucas has become a target for opposing teams. Criticized for playing too far off opponents, the veteran cornerback has struggled to contain big receivers. Gamble, who signed a lucrative contract extension in November, has had one of his best seasons overall, but has dropped numerous potential interceptions. Marshall, the nickel back, has struggled with his tackling.

Godfrey, a rookie starter, makes occasional assignment mistakes. Harris, who had an NFL-high eight forced fumbles last season, had two this season and none since Week 2.

"I think we moved the ball up and down the field the way that we wanted to," Boldin said after the first meeting with Carolina. "We didn't feel like they had answers for us, especially when we went four-wide with the no-huddle package."

The secondary would be helped if the Panthers can get pressure on Warner. Backup defensive end Charles Johnson had two sacks in the first meeting, but Carolina was frustrated by Warner's quick release. Julius Peppers, who had a career-best 14½ sacks this season, was held to one quarterback hurry in that game.

But the Panthers made a defensive play when it counted. Beason picked off Warner's deflected pass near the goal line early in the fourth quarter with the Panthers clinging to a 24-23 lead.

"It was a tough game for us," Beason said. "Second round of the playoffs, it's going to be a lot of fun."