This is what the Chatsworth Chancellors have been waiting for.

Chatsworth purposely scheduled a series of difficult nonleague basketball games in hopes of being better prepared for the beginning of what figures to be another difficult trek in the highly competitive West Valley League.

That time is now.

League play tips off tonight at against host El Camino Real in Woodland Hills at 7 p.m. Things don’t figure to get any easier Thursday, as Chatsworth (16-3) faces state power Taft of Woodland Hills.

Are the Chancellors ready?

“We’ve met most of our expectations so far, but these games that are coming up are the ones that really matter to us. It’s all about league play the rest of the way,’’ coach Scott Switalla said. “Everything changes now. The games mean more, the intensity level raises for league. The crowds are bigger. The rivalries are bigger.

“As far as we’re concerned, our record is 0-0. You can forget about the nonleague games. All that stuff is history, in the past.’’

Taft is the undisputed league favorite, but once the playoffs begin, the Toreadors are in Div. I and Chatsworth is in Div. III. With an all-important showdown against Taft looming, it might be tempting to overlook El Camino Real, so the Chancellors better be careful.

El Camino Real surprised more than a few teams in the Beverly Hills Tournament to open the season back in early December, winning its first three games before finally losing to Los Angeles Fremont, 46-44, and falling just short of the title game.

Two weeks later, it was more of the same at the San Fernando Valley Invitational, where the Conquistadores more than held their own against a loaded tournament field. A loss to Sierra Canyon ended El Camino Real’s run.

“Oh yeah, we know all about El Camino Real. We know what they’re capable of, there’s no doubt about that,’’ Switalla said. “Our focus is on ECR first, and if and when we get by them, then we’ll turn our attention toward Taft.

“Here’s the thing, if we went 19-0 in nonleague play and then went 0-10 in league play, our season would be a complete failure. I can not stress how important league play is for us. It’s what we do now that defines our season.’’

More of the same for the girls: The Chatsworth girls’ basketball team also begins West Valley League competition today at El Camino Real at 4 p.m.

The Chancellors have the following day off, which gives them a bit of extra time to prepare for Taft on the road Friday night at 5 p.m.

A victory against El Camino Real (7-7 overall) is a distinct possibility and duplicating the feat against the Toreadors (1-7) appears to be a forgone conclusion for Chatsworth, which hopes to build on the nonleague momentum it had built.