Being No. 1 in the West Division presents the Saskatchewan Roughriders with an opportunity to rest their No. 1 quarterback.

Therefore, Jake Maier will start behind centre in place of Trevor Harris when the Roughriders — who have sewed up first place overall in the CFL — visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday (6 p.m., CKRM, TSN).

“It has been a great year for us, obviously,” Maier said after Monday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “To be in a position where we are now to grant some opportunities for guys on our team to show who they are and to continue to build momentum going into this playoff run is something that you don’t get every year in the CFL.

“As a guy who has been on playoff teams and teams that haven’t made the playoffs, anytime you get a chance to play, you’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities and you’ve got to embrace them.”

Harris and Maier have combined to help the Roughriders post a 12-4 record and earn hosting privileges for the Western Final (Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).

The Roughriders would still be aiming to clinch first place if Maier hadn’t done his part by quarterbacking the Roughriders to a 37-18 victory over the visiting B.C. Lions on June 28. Harris missed that game due to injury.

Saskatchewan secured top spot on Friday by posting a 27-19 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts. Harris went 23-for-29 for 340 yards and two touchdowns.

Afterwards, the Roughriders’ No. 7 was asked about the prospect of being rested for all or part of the final two regular-season games — a decision that is ultimately the responsibility of Head Coach Corey Mace.

“I’ll fight him,” Harris said, jokingly referencing his desire to play.

Well … how did that conversation turn out?

“Like we had planned, we squared up,” Mace said with a laugh, “and, as you can figure, I’m coming out clean.”

But seriously …

“It was a good conversation,” Mace said. “We all know 7, man. He doesn’t ever want to take time away. I just kind of gave him the plan of what we’re looking like here and he understands.”

Also understood, across the board, is that the standards and expectations do not change, regardless of the roster composition.

“Anytime you go out there, it’s to win,” Offensive Co-ordinator Marc Mueller stated. “There’s an opportunity for guys here to play.

“We talk about at the start of the year that no matter what year you’re in — a rookie, 10th year, veteran, all-star — you’re here because we believe in you and we expect you when you get out there to play winning football.

“We believe in what our brand is — winning football — and we think that everyone who we’re putting out there can do that. We’re expecting them to go out there and play hard and come back 1-and-0 (this week).

“We expect whoever goes in there to attain the level that we’ve built this season, whether it’s Trevor or Jake or whoever’s out there. The guys in the room hold each other to the standard, so I think we (as coaches) should as well.”

The blueprint for the Oct. 25 regular-season finale against the visiting Lions will be revealed in the week leading up to that game.

After opposing B.C., the Roughriders will have a first-round playoff bye. The Western Semi-Final is set for Nov. 1 on the home field of the second-place team.

The winners of the division finals on Nov. 8 will advance to the 112th Grey Cup Game, to be played on Nov. 16 in Winnipeg.

INJURY UPDATE

The following players did not practise on Monday: Harris (load management) and fellow quarterback Tommy Stevens (knee), receivers KeeSean Johnson (knee) and Dohnte Meyers (ankle), defensive backs Rolan Milligan Jr. (foot/knee) and Marcus Sayles (ankle), defensive lineman Shane Ray (neck), linebacker Melique Straker (illness) and kicker Brett Lauther (back).

Defensive backs Nelson Lokombo (ankle) and Jaxon Ford (knee) and defensive linemen Habakkuk Baldonado (foot) and Micah Johnson (load management) were limited participants.

Cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, who has missed the past four games with a head injury, was a full participant — as was receiver Shawn Bane Jr. (knee). Campbell has returned six interceptions for 205 yards in 11 games this season.