After a classic contest filled with explosive plays, the drama is building for another highly charged CFL game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Elks.

“You know you’re going to get hard-nosed football when you line up and play against an Edmonton Elks offence or an Edmonton Elks team, period,” Roughriders Defensive Co-ordinator Joshua Bell said after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium.

“You know that those guys are going to be coached up well (by Mark Kilam and his staff). You know that they’re going to have some gunpowder on their food for the week and that they’re going to be ready to go.”

Edmonton won Part 1 of a home-and-home set, prevailing 36-34 on Thursday at Mosaic Stadium. The rematch is set for Saturday, 5 p.m., at Commonwealth Stadium.

“We’re excited for it,” Bell said, “and it also gets your blood boiling a little bit to go see a guy who punched you in the mouth the last time, so I think it will be fun for us to go outside and play with these guys again.”

Edmonton erupted for 510 passing yards en route to improving its record to a West Division-leading 6-1. Saskatchewan, the defending Grey Cup champion, is in second spot at 4-2.

“(The Elks) did what they were supposed to do,” Bell said. “They came in and they chopped our head off at home, so we get to go on the road and kind of return the favour — and we’d like to kind of do that emphatically.”

QUALI-TY BACKS

Running back A.J. Ouellette, who suffered a knee injury late in the third quarter of Thursday’s game, is unlikely to play in the rematch.

“We’re going to go week-to-week on it,” Head Coach Corey Mace said when asked about Ouellette’s status. “It might be a tall task this week, but nothing long term.”

Ouellette, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher, missed the Roughriders’ second and third games of this season with an ankle injury.

Quali Conley stepped in and rushed 20 times for 107 yards — averaging 5.4 yards per carry — while scoring one touchdown.

“I feel like I’ve learned a lot from A.J.,” Conley said. “He’s basically the teacher back. He does everything right and he’s very patient. Just him coaching me on the sidelines is very helpful.”

In addition to being a top-tier ball carrier, Ouellette is an elite pass-blocker. Conley has also taken that to heart.

“No block, no rock,” the former University of Arizona Wildcats standout said. “This is a passing league, so you have to be good (at pass protection).

“My coach from college, Alonzo Carter, introduced that saying to me. He was basically saying, ‘You won’t be in a lot if you can’t block, because if you’re in, they know you’re running the ball.’

“Down in the States, they call it a ‘three-down back.’ The third down is usually a passing down and if you can block, you stay on the field.”

EXTRA POINTS

• Zack Fry, the Roughriders’ starting left guard, did not practise on Tuesday due to a knee injury. Mace said the timetable for Fry is comparable to that of Ouellette. If Fry cannot play on Saturday, the Roughriders’ offensive line will undergo a change for the first time this season. Fry, Payton Collins (left tackle), Logan Ferland (centre), Jacob Brammer (right guard) and Jermarcus Hardrick (right tackle) were the starters for the first six games.

• Receiver Samuel Emilus did not practise on Tuesday due to a foot injury. Defensive back Nelson Lokombo, who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, was a full participant in Tuesday’s workout.

• Saturday’s game will feature two of the league’s best defences. Edmonton has allowed a league-low 24.4 offensive points per game. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (25.3) are second in that category, followed by Saskatchewan (26.2).

• The Roughriders have allowed the fewest touchdown passes (eight), even after Cody Fajardo threw for four scores on Thursday at Mosaic Stadium.

• Saskatchewan boasts the league’s best second-down conversion rate (59.6 per cent). The Montreal Alouettes are a distant second at 53.0.

• The Roughriders’ next home game is on Aug. 7, 7 p.m., against the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Tickets are AVAILABLE HERE.