Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-1-0)
at Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-2-0)
Thursday, 7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium
CKRM, TSN
THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for a sunny day with a high of 26 C. The evening is to be clear with a low of 15 C.
THE LOWDOWN: The Roughriders enter the contest having lost two games in a row, including Saturday’s 23-17 defeat at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes at Mosaic Stadium. The Tiger-Cats have won two straight, including Friday’s 31-17 decision over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers … The Roughriders have won three straight regular-season games against Hamilton and six of their past 10. Saskatchewan is 4-1-0 in its past five home games versus the Tiger-Cats … Hamilton is 2-1-0 to start a season for the first time since 2009.
THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: Quarterback Brandon Bridge is set to make his second straight start for Saskatchewan and the third of his career in green and white. His first start for the Roughriders was Sept. 15, when he helped them post a 27-19 victory over the host Tiger-Cats … Bridge started against Montreal in place of Zach Collaros, who’s sidelined with a concussion. But Bridge lasted just one half against the Als before being replaced by David Watford, so Bridge should be motivated Thursday … Marcus Thigpen gets the start at tailback, with fellow international Tre Mason and national Jerome Messam joining Thigpen in the rotation. That trio will try to help establish a ground game that has yet to produce a rushing touchdown this season … The Roughriders’ receiving corps remains intact from the Montreal game, with wide receivers Josh Stanford and Shaq Evans joining slotbacks Caleb Holley, Naaman Roosevelt and Jordan Williams-Lambert … The offensive line once again comprises Dan Clark at centre, Dariusz Bladek and Brendon LaBatte as the guards and Thaddeus Coleman and Terran Vaughn as the tackles. Takoby Cofield comes onto the roster as the sixth man in place of Jarvis Harrison … Ends Charleston Hughes and Willie Jefferson anchor the Roughriders’ defensive line, with Mic’hael Brooks, Zack Evans, Makana Henry and Eddie Steele rotating through the tackle positions. Tobi Antigha, Chad Geter and Jordan Reaves provide depth at defensive end … The Roughriders’ starting linebacking corps remains the same as it has been all season, with Sam Hurl in the middle and Sam Eguavoen and Derrick Moncrief on the outsides … Saskatchewan’s starting secondary again consists of cornerbacks Duron Carter and Jovon Johnson, halfbacks Crezdon Butler and Ed Gainey and safety Mike Edem. Receiver/running back/returner Christion Jones also took snaps with the defence this week and could be deployed against Hamilton’s smaller receivers … Jones enters the week as the CFL’s leader in combined yards, with 531. He’s on pace to become just the second Saskatchewan player to exceed 3,000 combined yards in a season, joining Corey Holmes (3,455 in 2005) … The team’s other specialists are punter Josh Bartel, kicker Brett Lauther and long-snapper Jorgen Hus.
