A travel advisory if you will for the Trans Canada Highway through Eastern Alberta this weekend, the roads westbound out of Saskatchewan will most likely be a little congested.
For the Riders are coming to town and with them the league's most faithful of travelling groups no doubt will be along for the ride.
McMahon Stadium will be a lively place this Sunday, a place where perhaps we might be excused if we're a little confused as to which is the home team, such is the volume of the Rider faithful, especially when a playoff game is but a few hours down the road.
In a province where they travel for hours from north to south, east to west to head for Regina for the regular season, a side trip to Calgary is but an earlier wake up call. A game between Stamps and Riders always an event and one which sometimes moves people to do or say particularly stupid things..
Dumb ass radio hosts aside, the actual game itself should be a fascinating study of two teams with desires for an extension of the CFL season for a few more weeks.
The Riders arrive in Calgary looking to put an inconsistent regular season behind them, focused on toppling the Stamps who for most of 2012 were among the top earners of the CFL season.
Calgary will tap Ralph Tate on the shoulder for the opening snap, the Stamps starter who was injured early on in the season has recovered nicely and with a bit of his rust knocked off over the last few weeks, John Hufnagel apparently believes that Tate is the hand to go with on Sunday.
Should he stumble however, Kevin Glenn, who guided the Stamps through the 2012 season will be ready to pick up the load, making Hufnagels' decision not so much as picking from 1 or 2 but from 1A and 1B.
Another factor in the Stamps attack will be Jon Cornish, who has had a remarkable regular season, accumulating yardage, accolades and records along the way.
The Riders mission is clear, shut down the Stampeder offence, which can pile on the points in record fashion, a lightning fast attack that can leave a game all but over by half time.
Withstand the first thirty minutes and the Riders may very well be able to make some travel plans for Vancouver (and maybe bring all their players on the plane this time). Should the Stamps get some traction on Sunday however, they may be very, very hard to stop.
And with some unfinished business in Vancouver, the Stamps no doubt would relish the chance to ruin the Lions thoughts of back to back Grey Cup appearances.
The dance partners for that Western Final will be known by Sunday evening, our previews and reviews can be found below.
Game Time 2 PM MT, 4 ET, 1 PT McMahon Stadium TSN
Saskatchewan 30 at Calgary 36 (30,027)
Calgary advances to the Western Final in Vancouver on November 18th.
Pre Game
CFL.ca-- Game Preview
CFL.ca-- Video Previews
National Post-- Stampeders go with Drew Tate in CFL West semi-final
Regina Leader Post-- Durant gives Riders an edge
Calgary Herald-- Raymond-Dressler battle will be one of the West semifnal's best subplots
Calgary Sun-- Cold hard facts suggest Stamps do better in tough conditions
Canada.com-- Roughriders have eyes on a different prize
Team Backgrounders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Calgary Stampeders
Post Game
CFL.ca-- Game Review
CFL.ca-- Video Review
National Post-- Stampeders take West semi-final from Roughriders in final minute
Regina Leader Post-- Monday morning musings
Calgary Herald-- Stamps stun Riders 36-30 in CFL nailbiter
Calgary Sun-- Calgary Stampeders score West semi win over Saskatchewan Roughriders
Canada.com-- Stampeders stun Riders with last-minute TD
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