Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 13, 2018 ) Saskatchewan 0, Winnipeg 31

The Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division semifinal Sunday. The Roughriders won five of their final six regular-season games to earn the right to host a playoff game for the first time since 2013 and hope to take down the Blue Bombers for the third time with back-to-back victories in the Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl.

"We had a good regular season and we're excited for this opportunity," Saskatchewan quarterback Zach Collaros told reporters. "Anytime you can play in front of Rider Nation is big and hats off to them for supporting us and we can kind of reward them with a home playoff win." Winnipeg looked like the odd team out in the West Division with a 5-7 record Sept. 8, but stormed back into the playoff picture by winning five of its last six games, including an impressive 31-0 rout of Saskatchewan in Week 18. The Blue Bombers have lost the last two Western semifinals by a combined eight points and hope to hand coach Mike O'Shea his first postseason win as they look to exorcise past demons by earning their first playoff victory against Saskatchewan since 1965. "I love playing with this team and the brotherhood that we have so winning this year would mean everything to me," Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris told reporters. "We've got to see it through as there can't be any lulls and there can't be mental breakdowns."

TV: 4:30 ET, TSN, ESPN2

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (10-8): Harris gained 35 yards on a pair of carries in the 33-24 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos, to win his second straight rushing title with 1,390 yards. Linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox missed practice with a foot injury and will likely be replaced by Ian Wild if he doesn't recover in time while defensive back Marcus Sayles is expected to play Sunday after an undisclosed injury kept him sidelined during the week. Seven Winnipeg players were named to the West Division all-star team, including Harris, wide receiver Darvin Adams (61 catches, 1,028 yards, 10 touchdowns) and linebacker Adam Bighill (105 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions).

ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (12-6): Collaros returned to practice after suffering a concussion in the first half of the 35-16 victory over the BC Lions on Oct. 27 and is considered day-to-day ahead of Sunday's clash. Zack Evans and Ed Gainey each scored a defensive touchdown against BC to take Saskatchewan's season total to 11, which matched the CFL record set by the Lions in 1978. Centre Dan Clark resumed practicing after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury and could return to the fold if the Roughriders advance to the West Division Final while wide receiver Shaq Evans is day-to-day with a minor knock.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Saskatchewan has won four of its last five home games.

2. Winnipeg hasn't won a playoff game in Regina since Nov. 5, 1955.

3. The winner will face the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Final on Nov. 18.

PREDICTION: Roughriders 26, Blue Bombers 23