Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba will go toe-to-toe, so to speak, as they coach rival teams of singers and dancers in the Dancing With the Stars spinoff, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann. The reality series kicks off tonight.

Stepping on each other's toes is all in a day's work for outspoken Dancing With the Stars judges Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

But this time it's war.

"If she gets in my way, she's gonna get it," Tonioli, 55, tells Sun Media. "You know what I'm like; I don't mince my words."

Starting tonight on ABC and CTV, DWTS spinoff Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann will see the duo create and coach rival groups of singers and dancers. And there's no telling what kind of nastiness will erupt.

"I only know Bruno from sitting two chairs away from him in Dancing With the Stars," says Inaba, 40. "I'm sure we'll butt heads. They want us to butt heads. But I think it's all in fun, and for me it's really more about the kids than it is Bruno and I."

As with virtually every other reality TV talent series, Dance War premieres this week with footage of impressive and horrendous auditions from across the U.S. Next week it goes live with the Top 14 double-threats being cut down to 12.

Then captains Tonioli (an Italy-raised, Britain-based dancer and choreographer) and Inaba (whose career highlights range from singing pop in Tokyo to dancing on tour with Madonna) will each randomly pick six performers for their teams, who they'll guide through themed song-and-dance routines in genres including pop, Latin and country.

Viewers will vote for their favourite group after each episode. The following week, host (and DWTS Season 2 winner) Drew Lachey will announce the lowest-scoring team, whose captain will then be forced to send someone home.

"Each week, we have to almost assess. It's like school and an exam," Tonioli says. "We want people to have a big range. They have to be mini-stars in the making."

In six weeks, Tonioli and Inaba will have to agree on which of their "mini-stars" will form the winning supergroup. In addition to a recording deal and a car, the champs will score an opening slot on tour with a major performing artist, whose identity is unknown.

Tonioli is also a judge on Britain's answer to DWTS, Strictly Come Dancing. He co-starred with fellow Strictly judge Arlene Phillips on Dance War's BBC version, DanceX last year -- and his team won an opening gig on Rihanna's London tour.

"In a way, the U.K. show was like a rehearsal for the American edition," he says.

The show itself is a rehearsal for the real world.

"We set them up, and it's up to them to keep it going," Tonioli says. "It's not like American Idol where I'm going to manage them myself. We're giving them the opportunity to have a career."

Meanwhile, DWTS addicts will have the opportunity to get their Carrie Ann and Bruno fix before the F-list celebrity ballroom danceoff returns for a sixth season in March.

Inaba is also quite stoked at the chance Dance War is offering her to show that she's capable of more than sitting around with fellow DWTS judges Tonioli and Len Goodman, offering celebs advice on how to put more cha in their cha-cha.

"I show by example, unlike Dancing With the Stars where I explain from my perch up on high," she says, adding she's choreographed for numerous TV series and specials over the years, including Idol and the Miss America Pageant. "Bruno and I know so much about different aspects of the industry ... I'm excited to show people who I am and where I come from."

And perhaps even a few dance moves?

"I would love to have a danceoff with Bruno. But I don't think that's in the works right now."

That's not to say we're going to see either of them sitting still. Especially Tonioli, whose hyperactive demeanor will be in full force on Dance War.

"I think the madness will return," he says. "I am very physical. So I might have to be restrained."

Bring it on.