Saturday’s game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Montreal Alouettes at Percival-Molson Stadium means absolutely nothing.
The two opponents will want to set the table for their Eastern semi-final, which will be played a week later at the same place, without revealing too much about their game.
“I think it’s fair to say that both clubs will hide their game a little bit,” Jason Maas said earlier this week. It’s clear that we will want to save things for the semi-final, but we will play this match to win. Our starters will be there. We are confident in our plan and we want to come out of this game a better team than we are now.
“Now what we decide to keep in the bank for next week, it all depends on how Saturday’s game goes. »
Words that echo those of Ti-Cats head coach Orlondo Steinauer.
“The best thing for our team is to send Bo [Levi Mitchell, le quart partant] for a few series. We have to find some chemistry and there are certain things we want to see. This match is perfect for that. […] We want to take advantage of this match to become a better team. »
Some also see this match as the first half of a duel spanning two weeks.
“This match is a bit part of a whole with the one next week,” noted safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy. Both teams will put things aside [pour la demi-finale]. I think it’s more of a mental match. For our part, we want to get a fifth consecutive victory and reach the playoffs on this momentum. »
Neither the Tiger-Cats (8-9) nor the Alouettes (10-7) can improve their position in the standings in the event of a victory. Will the priority be to keep everyone healthy or to obtain an 11th victory, which the Birds have not achieved since 2012, for Maas?
“It’s clear that you would like everyone to be healthy for the playoffs,” admitted the head coach. But the way the salary cap is structured in the CFL, it’s difficult to give starters time off. »
“We must also approach this match with the right state of mind and not be complacent because the result does not change anything for our season,” added Dequoy.
One thing is certain: players cannot give less effort even in a meeting without any real stakes.
“I can’t let a player go because I don’t want to get injured for the playoffs,” said Dequoy. We can’t pretend. »
“When I’m on the field, it’s going to be to win,” said quarterback Cody Fajardo. No matter what happens in the next few weeks, the most important game on Saturday will be Saturday. There is no match that means nothing. This is professional football. Players will play their position in these meetings. I’m going to play 100% as long as Coach Jason lets me on the field. »
“It’s an opportunity for our team – and theirs – to try things, to show things or to hide things,” said Levi Mitchell. There is always this game of cat and mouse. It’s a game and we are paid to win. Everyone on the field will play to win. »
For Levi Mitchell, it’s also an opportunity for the Tiger-Cats to set the record straight with the Alouettes.
“There is obviously a psychological aspect. They are 2-0 against us and are probably happy to have to play us [en éliminatoires]. We need to make sure we do everything we can to lower their confidence level for next week. »
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday.
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Canadian Press reporter Dan Ralph in Hamilton contributed to this article.