Edmonton @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2018 ) Calgary 42, Edmonton 48

The Calgary Stampeders look to take sole possession of second place in the West Division when they host the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday in the first edition of the Battle of Alberta in 2019. The Stampeders opened the season with a rare home loss, but have won four of their last five games, including a thrilling 17-16 victory against the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 7, and the defending Grey Cup champions hope to leapfrog the Eskimos by notching their fourth straight home win in the rivalry.

"It's been such weird year as we just don't feel like we've really caught our breath with so many new guys," Calgary coach Dave Dickenson told reporters. "We know this is a big game so the guys are focused on this one and hopefully we'll play well." Edmonton bounced back from a 20-10 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in impressive fashion as it blanked the Toronto Argonauts 26-0 in Week 7 to record its first shutout since Sept. 17, 2014. The Eskimos have been formidable at home, compiling a 10-2 record since the start of last season, but are searching for some consistency on the road where they have dropped nine of their last 12 games during that same span, and hope to knock off the Stampeders in Calgary for the first time since a 15-11 victory Oct. 10, 2015. "It's always one of those games where you measure yourself against the best and it's always good to play them," Edmonton coach Jason Maas told reporters. "It would be quite the feat to defeat them at their place."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (4-2): Trevor Harris went 27-of-39 through the air for 298 yards in the win against Toronto to become the 36th quarterback in CFL history to surpass 20,000 passing yards. Shaq Cooper racked up 128 rushing yards and a touchdown in his first start of the season, but could be relegated to a backup role after starter C.J. Gable returned to practice after missing one game with an undisclosed injury. Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels is likely to return to the lineup after he was taken off the one-game injured list (lower body) while Edmonton added linebacker D.J. Calhoun and defensive back Bryce Bartlett to the practice roster.

ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (4-2): Nick Arbuckle went 30-of-37 for 370 yards and Rene Paredes kicked five field goals, including the game winner from 31 yards as time expired, to lift Calgary past Ottawa. Running back Ka'Deem Carey did not practice Wednesday after limping off the field with a leg injury against the Redblacks and could be replaced by Terry Williams or Romar Morris, who hasn't played since tearing his ACL in the West Division Final last year. Wide receiver Juwan Brescacin, who has 11 catches for 168 yards and three touchdowns this season, was placed on the six-game injured list after suffering a lower-body injury, which will require surgery.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Calgary has won eight of the last nine home meetings with Edmonton since the start of the 2012 season.

2. Harris leads the league in passing yards (1,931).

3. The Stampeders top the CFL in interceptions (14).

PREDICTION: Stampeders 26, Eskimos 23