Saskatchewan @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 13, 2017 ) Ottawa 33, Saskatchewan 32

The Ottawa Redblacks begin defence of their Grey Cup title when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Eastern semifinal Sunday. The Redblacks, who have been idle since Oct. 27 because of a Week 20 bye, won three straight games to end the regular season, including a thrilling 33-32 victory against the Roughriders three weeks ago to clinch second place and hope to ride the momentum to their third straight Eastern final appearance.

"We have lots of confidence going into the playoffs," Ottawa wide receiver/kick returner Diontae Spencer told reporters. "Belief is everything and if you don't believe in something it's not going to happen." Saskatchewan is the crossover team from the West Division after suffering a 28-13 defeat to the Edmonton Eskimos in the final week of the regular season. The Roughriders, who are making their first playoff appearance in three years, compiled a 6-2 record against East Division opponents in the regular season, including an 18-17 victory against the Redblacks on Sept. 29, and hope to advance to their first division final since 2013. "We have an opportunity to do something special," Saskatchewan quarterback Kevin Glenn told reporters. "We're going to enjoy it and leave it all on the field."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2

ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (10-8): Bakari Grant caught three passes for 38 yards against Edmonton to finish the regular season with 1,000 receiving yards (1,033) for the first time in his seven-year career. Left tackle Derek Dennis is hoping to play after missing the last three games with back spasms while guard Brendon LaBatte, who suffered a leg injury against the Eskimos, will be a game-time decision. LaBatte, wide receivers Duron Carter, Naaman Roosevelt, defensive end Willie Jefferson and defensive back Ed Gainey, who led the league with 10 interceptions, were named to the West Division all-star team.

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (8-9-1): Spencer set a CFL record for the most all-purpose yards in a game with 496 as he racked up over 100 yards in receiving (133), kickoff (165) and punt returns (169) to go along with another 29 on a missed field goal in the 41-36 victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 19. Trevor Harris, who threw for a career-best 4,679 yards and 30 touchdowns in the regular season, will be making his first career playoff start after backing up Henry Burris during Ottawa's Grey Cup run last year. Left tackle SirVincent Rogers is ready to return to the lineup after missing the last four games with a lower-body injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The last four meetings between Ottawa and Saskatchewan have been decided by a combined five points.

2. Grant (1,003), Roosevelt (1,035) and Carter (1,043) all surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in 2017.

3. Harris has thrown for 955 yards and seven touchdowns in his last three games.

PREDICTION: Roughriders 26, Redblacks 24