The Panthers versus the Patriots. That's what Page 1 is worried about.

Bill Simmons is dominating Page 2.

Maxim versus Playboy. Now that's Page 3 talk.

The two men's magazines will battle for Super Bowl Party supremacy yet again this year.

The new guard versus the old guard.
Youth versus Hugh.
Partial versus full.

Last year was a complete disaster for those lucky enough to be invited to both parties-- they were on the same night. This year, Maxim's "Circus Maximus" hits the Super Bowl city on Friday, while Playboy's "Heaven & Hell" kicks off on Saturday night.

Misinformation and rumor has given the Maxim party the early edge in the party buzz war. First, we were hearing that Maxim's private bash would be held at a secret ranch location 40 miles west of downtown Houston, out of fear that those Texans who weren't invited would crash the party. Then, late last week, a story in the Houston Business Journal --which was republished in a prominent position on the MSNBC Web site -- stated that scalpers were getting up to $1,195 for tickets to the Maxim party. But Page 3 found no evidence of any tickets being sold on the Web.

"Hopefully some poor people don't buy tickets," a source close to the Maxim party told us. "They will have been ripped off."

So here are the facts: The Maxim party is at a secret location at some ranch. The ranch is only 20 miles away, not 40 miles away. And there are no tickets.

As you might remember, the last time the Patriots were in the Super Bowl two years ago, counterfeit Maxim party tickets were being hawked at the last minute for $250. Real Super Bowl tickets that year were being sold at the last minute for $100.

Good luck trying to get into this party. Those who are on the list have to show their government issued identification before being allowed to get on the bus that leaves from downtown Houston. Those who might be given directions to arrive privately include Jessica Alba, Nick Lachey, Adam Sandler and World Series MVP Josh Beckett.

We know nothing about the hired guns at the Maxim party, although last year we did some informal "interviews," which revealed that the women auditioned for their role in the party.

Playboy's counterpunch at the Corinthian will feature Playmates in angelic and devilish garb, but the word is that the big Hef won't be showing up this year. Part of the fun of attending this shindig is watching Hefner "interact" with guests.

Guests invited to Playboy include Warren Sapp, Manny Ramirez and The Rock, but we're going to keep an eye on Jeremy Shockey, who Page 3 votes most likely to disappear with a Playmate in the shortest amount of time.

Speaking of the outgoing Giants tight end, he was among the hottest names at Super Bowl parties last year, along with the Miller Catfight Commercial Girls and none other than Joe Millionaire himself, Evan Marriott.

So without further ado, here are our top five people who will get attention if they show up to this week's parties:

1. Paris Hilton & Nick Carter: First came "the video" and then "The Simple Life." Last we heard, Hilton was hooking up with her new boy toy, Carter, who turns 24 on Wednesday, in Utah at the Sundance Film Festival. We're not sick of her yet, as long as she's not sporting a Von Dutch trucker hat.

2. Jesse Palmer: If the Super Bowl was last week and Palmer, the New York Giants backup quarterback, walked into a party, surely no one would notice. Today, days after being named the next "Bachelor," partygoers would be all over him.

3. Jessica Simpson: She's kind of like Britney, except she didn't annul her marriage and we know her husband is in town.

4. Roger Clemens: Since ditching the Yankees for the Astros, this will be the Rocket's first chance to be anointed the king of Houston.

5. Sam Solovey: Who cares if three of five people on this list have a connection to a reality show? We want to see how annoying the most recently dumped "Apprentice" from Donald Trump's show is in person.

Other parties

The battle between the sports video game brands -- Electronic Arts and Sony Playstation 2 -- will once again be on. Sony's "Game Before the Game" goes off Wednesday, while EA's version goes on Thursday. The Patriots' Troy Brown will face off against Steve Smith of the Panthers in the Sony event, in which the video game's winner team has gone on to win the Super Bowl every year -- an eight-year span. Pat O'Brien and Deion Sanders will host the event. EA's event -- a tournament format among NFL players using their market-leading Madden 2004 game -- will be also be full of stars and celebrities.

Sports collectibles company Upper Deck will have their party on Thursday, with red carpet lining the street leading up to the Mercury Room in downtown Houston. Inside, DJ Static will be spinning the wheelz. Those expected to attend include Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Brandi Chastain, Nick Cannon, Kristy Swanson and Barry Sanders.

Nike returns to the Super Bowl party scene on Friday, as their football endorsees including Michael Vick (whose Nike Air Zoom Vick's came out in November), Terrell Owens and Brian Urlacher are expected to show. Nike's wunderkind LeBron James will not be in attendance.

Sports agencies will do it up again this year.

Octagon will have a party Friday afternoon with John Elway and Ronnie Lott among the guests on list at the invite-only party. Later in the day, it's SFX's turn for "Super Happy Hour at Drexler's Bar and Grill in Downtown Houston," where Clyde himself might show up. Guaranteed to show up are Deuce McAllister, Trent Green and Mike Alstott. Featured drinks at the event will include Coconut Rumming Back (coconut rum and coke) and the Cherry Hail Mary (cherry vodka with Red Bull). About 550 people are expected, including the Houston Texans cheerleaders.

What's a Super Bowl without a Leigh Steinberg party? Steinberg, who last year had his event at the San Diego Zoo, hosts at the Downtown Aquarium this year. More than 1,000 people are invited, including Brooke Burns, Snoop Dogg and Tom Arnold. If the shrimp cocktail is anywhere near as good as it was at the zoo, we're not going to notice many people. Then again, it might be weird to be downing shrimp at an aquarium.

Hush, one of Texas' largest nightclubs is going to be busy with parties all week. On Thursday, the club -- which is a finalist for the best club lighting for the 2004 Club Awards (we're not kidding) -- is hosting Jermaine Dupri's bash. Girlfriend Janet Jackson, Ashton Kutcher, Serena Williams and Missy Elliott are all on the guest list. On Friday, P. Diddy will be the name on the marquee and on Saturday, LL Cool J and Jay-Z will host their "Sexy In The City" party at Hush. Tickets for the party can be purchased on the club's Web site -- $75 for general admission, $300 for VIP and $500 for skybox level. There are, of course, many other parties to which you can buy tickets if you're in the area, but Page 3 is here to be the eyes and ears at those parties the average Joe-- not Adam Mesh -- can't get into.

Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com and Super Bowl parties for Page 3, can be reached at darren.rovell@espn3.com.