PHOENIX AP) - The world of a big-time pitcher in postseason baseball was new to Matt Morris a year ago. He returns wiser, maybe stronger, after a season of emotional and physical pain.

"Some of the stuff we've been through during the season is going to make us tough," Morris said. "I'm just looking forward to it, especially some revenge for last year."

The Cardinals, who overcame the deaths of pitcher Darryl Kile and longtime broadcaster Jack Buck to win the Central Division, face NL West champion Arizona in the divisional series for the second year in a row.

Morris (17 (9)- will start for St. Louis against Randy Johnson 24 (5)- in the opener Tuesday night. It's a matchup at least as tough for the Cardinals' ace as the one he faced a year ago.

When the Diamondbacks beat St. Louis in five games en route to their World Series championship, Morris had two outstanding outings, and lost them both to Curt Schilling. Schilling 23 (7)- will start against Chuck Finley 7 (4)- in Game 2 on Thursday.

"I'm coming back to the same environment," Morris said, "a lot of familiarity is around."

What he will be missing is his good friend Kile.

"I think about him every day, say something he said. That's helped me for a while," Morris said.

On the field, Morris will oppose a towering, glaring foe who might be the best left-hander ever - The Big Unit. It's a matchup of Johnson's power against a Cardinals' lineup that was potent even before the trade that brought Scott Rolen from Philadelphia.

"The St. Louis Cardinals lineup you are going to see probably is the best offensive lineup in all of the postseason, in my estimation," Johnson said. "You don't have two or three hitters that you need to be careful with, you have four or five that really command your attention."

Arizona plans to go with a three-man rotation. Miguel Batista will start Game 3 on Saturday, then Johnson would come back on a full five days' rest if there is a Game 4 on Sunday. Schilling would go on four days' rest in Game 5 on Monday. In the four starts of Arizona's aces, St. Louis must win twice.

"We're here to win, so we're going to find a way to break through," St. Louis manager Tony La Russia said. "We will have eight tough outs in that lineup."

Just as Morris was recovering from the loss of Kile, he injured a hamstring and spent what turned out to be a positive 15-day trip to the disabled list.

"It kind of threw me out of whack, just being on time, rhythm and stuff, but I was able to throw a good three games and get back," Morris said. "I believe it was a blessing in disguise. I feel fresh, so I'm excited."

While the Cardinals rely on the big bats of Rolen, Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, Edgar Renteria and Tino Martinez, among others, Arizona has lost its best run-producer, Luis Gonzalez, and its best clutch player, Craig Counsell, to season-ending injuries.

The equalizer could be Johnson, who won the last three NL Cy Young Awards, then had a better season in 2002. He is the first NL player since Dwight Gooden in 1985 to win pitching's "triple crown" of wins (24), strikeouts (334) and ERA (2.32). He won his last five regular-season starts, celebrating his 39th birthday along the way.

"We've been to the top of the mountain, and we know what to expect," Johnson said. "You take it one step at a time. We have a tough opponent in St. Louis, and we know they are playing with a lot of heart and passion, and we'll have our hands full."

Johnson went 5-0 in last year's postseason after losing Game 2 to St. Louis. No one talks about his playoff failures anymore.

Last week, the Cardinals swept three from the Diamondbacks in St. Louis, which means very little, both sides agreed.

"This is the second year. Everything changes now," Schilling said, "your intensity, your focus, everything. Hopefully Randy will get us off on the right foot, and I'll keep it rolling on Thursday."

Arizona rebounded from a six-game losing streak to sweep four from Colorado and edge the Cardinals by one game for home-field advantage, which is important in a five-game series.

"You're playing in front of your fans, in your ballpark," Johnson said. "You are familiar with the surroundings and all of those little things, believe it or not, come into play."