Toronto @ Hamilton preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2017 ) Toronto 22, Hamilton 24

The Toronto Argonauts look to keep their grip on first place in the East Division when they make the short trip down the QEW to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday. The Argonauts took sole possession of the top spot after cruising past the Montreal Alouettes 33-19 to notch back-to-back wins for the first time this season, and hope to take another step toward their first division title in four years by avenging a 24-22 loss to the Tiger-Cats on Labour Day.

"We're trying to get there," Toronto coach Marc Trestman told reporters. "We're going to go through a stretch and we'll continue to learn more about ourselves." Hamilton kept its faint playoff hopes alive with a thrilling 24-23 victory on the road against the BC Lions. The Tiger-Cats are 3-1 since June Jones took over as coach and hope to topple the Argonauts for the second time in less than a month, which would give Hamilton the all-important tiebreaker in the process. "As soon as he (Jones) enters the room you can feel his presence," Sergio Castillo, who kicked the game-winning field goal against Lions, told reporters. "He brings that hope and at the end of the day that's all you can ask for."

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (6-7): James Wilder Jr. was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after he racked up 141 rushing yards, including an 85-yard touchdown, on 10 carries against Montreal. Defensive back Mitchell White had two interceptions against the Alouettes in his first game after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles while Victor Butler, who had seven sacks in his first three contests before going down with a knee injury, registered his first sack since returning two weeks ago. S.J. Green caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown to move into 45th place on the CFL's all-time receiving yards list with 7,679.

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (3-9): Alex Green rushed for 140 yards in his CFL debut to lift Hamilton past BC after spending the previous two years away from football. Jeremiah Masoli threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns while Shamawd Chambers caught six passes for 57 yards in his first game since being acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos. Wide receiver Andy Fantuz took first-team reps during practice and could play in his first game since tearing his ACL on Oct. 28, 2016 while all-star defensive back Abdul Kanneh (upper body) may suit up after appearing in only one game since coming over from the Ottawa Redblacks in the offseason.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Argonauts have lost seven straight visits to Tim Hortons Field.

2. Wilder has rushed for 331 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games.

3. The Tiger-Cats are last in the CFL in passing yards per game (241).

PREDICTION: Argonauts 29, Tiger-Cats 23