The objective here is to provide extra illumination about the looming “Lights Out” game.

A victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday at Mosaic Stadium would enable the Saskatchewan Roughriders to clinch first place in the West for the ninth time in the community-owned CFL team’s post-Second World War history.

As it stands, a home-field win has secured first place four times (in 1968, 1969, 2009 and 2019).

Facing Toronto on Friday, the Roughriders have an opportunity to emerge with a 5-0 lifetime record at home when first place has been the grand prize.

Saskatchewan also has a chance to nail down top spot in its third-last game of the regular season. This has happened only twice (1966, 1969).

Three games remained on the regular-season slate when the 1970 edition cemented a No. 1 placing and an automatic bye to the division final. The 1970 team went 14-2 and established an enduring franchise record for victories.

Currently 11-4, the Roughriders boast their best record at the 15-game mark since 1970 (13-2).

That was the third year in a row — the third time ever, to that point — in which Saskatchewan finished with the CFL’s best record. The Roughriders next led the loop in 1976.

Saskatchewan has not claimed first overall over the 49 years that have ensued. That could change as soon as Friday.

So, yes, it will be quite a night if all goes right.

The key word is if.

Nothing is assured in the always-unpredictable CFL, even if there is a disparity in the teams’ records.

Toronto, the defending Grey Cup champion, carries a 5-11 slate into this season’s second Friday Night Football showcase at Mosaic Stadium.

The lights were turned out on the Argonauts’ playoff chances when they fell 47-29 to the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

It is sheer folly, though, to presume a victory, especially when you keep in mind that:

• The Argonauts extended the Roughriders to the limit on June 20, when Saskatchewan won 39-32 on the strength of Mario Alford’s 99-yard kickoff-return touchdown with nine seconds left in the fourth quarter.

• Eight of the Roughriders’ victories have been by a margin of eight points or less.

• Traditionally, nothing has come easily for the Green and White. Nobody with allegiances to the Roughriders should take anything for granted because, as we all know, there has been heartbreak.

Those experiences, as excruciating as they can be to recall, make the great moments even sweeter.

Consider the Roughriders’ only two pennant-clinching home-field victories in more than half a century.

Nov. 7, 2009: Saskatchewan defeated the Calgary Stampeders 30-14 to finish the regular season with a 10-7-1 record.

Nov. 2, 2019: A 23-13 victory over Edmonton gave Saskatchewan a 13-5 slate, along with the team’s highest victory total since 1970.

As the ’70s dawned, a “Lights Out” game could only be the consequence of a power failure at Taylor Field.

Compare that to what we can expect from an electronic visual extravaganza known as “Lights Out: Land of Living Skies,” which will complement the on-field action featuring the Roughriders and Argonauts.

“All of Mosaic Stadium is a stage, as fans in the stands and players on the field are part of a show sure to light up the night,” reads a portion of a May 2 media release that outlined the Roughriders’ 2025 game themes.

“Presented by NexGen Energy, this special evening promises a powerful display of Rider Pride as fans are invited to help create a stunning visual display pre-game as well as during halftime.”

If the Roughriders can light up the Argonauts’ defence, all the better.

The weapons are in place.

Trevor Harris exceeded 4,000 passing yards for the season last Friday while helping the Roughriders defeat the Ottawa REDBLACKS 20-13.

Dohnte Meyers caught six passes in Ottawa for a career-high 158 yards, 66 of which resulted from a TD on the first play of the fourth quarter. Later in the game, Meyers exceeded 1,000 receiving yards.

Receiver KeeSean Johnson and running back A.J. Ouellette had reached 1,000-yard milestones the previous week.

Johnson, Meyers and Ouellette give Saskatchewan at least two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard running back for just the fifth time.

Saskatchewan fielded three 1,000-yard receivers (Chris Getzlaf, Weston Dressler and Taj Smith) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Kory Sheets) during the championship season of 2013.

A fourth two-plus-one season is already in the books, following the talented trios of 1994 (receivers Ray Elgaard and Don Narcisse plus running back Mike Saunders), 2000 (Curtis Marsh, Eric Guliford, Darren Davis) and 2010 (Dressler, Andy Fantuz, Wes Cates).

Cates, a football analyst for CKRM and CTV Regina, will be at Mosaic Stadium on Friday night.

It would be de-light-ful if a sellout crowd could join him for one of the most consequential regular-season games in Roughriders history.