Montreal @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2017 ) Toronto 9, Montreal 21

The Montreal Alouettes can take sole possession of first place in the East Division when they hit the road to face the Toronto Argonauts in the second game of a home-and-home set Saturday. The Alouettes held the Argonauts to 296 yards of total offence en route to a 21-9 victory in the first matchup and hope to claim the season series, which would hand them the all-important tiebreaker, by registering their third consecutive home victory.

"We wanted to make sure we play 60 minutes this week," Montreal defensive back Brandon Stewart told reporters. "Keep playing, don't relax and don't let up." Toronto hopes the likely return of Ricky Ray can provide the boost it needs to end a three-game skid. Ray took the majority of the first-team reps in practice after missing Friday's defeat because of a shoulder injury, and looks to breathe some life into a listless offence that was held without a touchdown for the first time this season in Week 8. "I'll be throwing a lot these next few days but I'm hoping I'll be ready to go," Ray told reporters. "Just having some rest last week and not doing anything other than rehab really helped it feel better this week."

TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (3-4): Darian Durant completed 18-of-27 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns against Toronto to move past Sam Etcheverry (30,381) for 14th place on the CFL's all-time passing yardage list with 30,484. Montreal traded backup quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who appeared in 22 games for the Alouettes, to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in exchange for defensive back Tevaughn Campbell and two third-round draft picks. Montreal's win against the Argonauts came at a cost as offensive lineman Philippe Gagnon, defensive tackle Keith Shologan and fullback J.C. Beaulieu all suffered knee injuries and will miss Saturday's clash.

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (3-5): Toronto struggled mightily without Ray as Jeff Mathews was limited to 67 passing yards in the first half before he was pulled in favour of Cody Fajardo, who threw for 75 yards and added another 60 on the ground against the Alouettes. Toronto released wide receiver Khalil Paden, who caught nine passes for 107 yards during his brief stint with the team, after failing to make an impact on the field. Former Ohio State star DeVier Posey, who has caught two touchdown passes in 2017, is inching closer to a return as he practiced for the first time after missing the last five games because of a leg injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Toronto leads the CFL in forced fumbles (nine) and sacks (27) .

2. Montreal WR Nik Lewis needs four receptions to move into second place on the CFL's all-time list.

3. Alouettes LB Kyries Hebert was fined an undisclosed amount for his late hit on Fajardo in the first meeting.

PREDICTION: Argonauts 24, Alouettes 21