Riders not taking Argos lightly, can clinch first place in the West with a win

This weekend’s CFL matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts features two teams who have different fates when it comes to the postseason.

Saskatchewan will be in the postseason and can finish first in the West Division with a win on Friday over the Argos or a Calgary Stampeders loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

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Toronto will have its season end without playoffs after being eliminated following another loss last week.

Despite the disparity between the two in the standings, Saskatchewan knows they can’t take them lightly.

“It’s the business of pro sports. They know what is at stake and I am sure they will be playing hard and playing for jobs and their legacy,” said C.J. Reavis, who could be set to start a second straight game at safety. “They will come out and play hard and play physical, but we just have to do our job and we will be alright.”

Riders head coach Corey Mace also agreed with that assessment, saying Argos coach Ryan Dinwiddie and his staff over there will have them ready to go for the game. Mace was a member of that staff from 2022-23 when he was the defensive co-ordinator there.

“I know that staff very well and a lot of those players — they take pride in their performance,” Mace said. “Whoever is out there definitely has something to play for. I don’t care how you cut it — that head coach and that staff have won a lot of games and so have those players so we have to be on it.”

The Argos are also dealing with more injuries to their quarterback spot. Nick Arbuckle suffered a shoulder injury and is being shut down for the season while Chad Kelly hasn’t played since suffering a serious leg injury in last year’s East Final.

That means Jarret Doege will make his third career CFL start and the second of the season this weekend.

“It was a rough one for him last week but that’s not the product that he has always put out there. I’ve had some experience calling games against him when he was in Edmonton and now jumping over to Toronto and in an offence with Dinwiddie, he will have answers to a lot of stuff.”

The Riders will be without defensive backs Tevaughn Campbell (head) and Rolan Milligan (knee/foot) for the game. Kicker Brett Lauther (back) and receiver Dohnte Meyers (ankle) are questionable for the game.

Despite not practicing this week, defensive back Marcus Sayles (knee) is listed as available by the team.

Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 5 p.m.