The BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Edmonton for the Western Final presented by Wegovy on the line.

Earlier this week, I took a look at some storylines (and there are many I didn’t get to) in the winner-takes-all Western Semi-Final presented by Wegovy. There’s the stifling run defences, some three-headed receiving monsters ready to be unleashed and some history between these two teams in the postseason.

With just one day until the big game, here are five things to know ahead of Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff that can be watched on TSN, RDS and CFL+.

Related ContentTHEIR TURNAROUND WAS EPIC

Heading into the 2026 season, the BC Lions were many media members’ preseason pick to win the 113th Grey Cup. Then, to much surprise, the Lions stumbled out of the gate, finishing the first third of the season 1-5.

But then things started to change, especially on defence. After Week 6, the Lions were the eighth-ranked unit. By Week 21, they were second.

The Lions went on a run after their not-so-hot start, with a stretch that included nine wins in 10 games to climb into playoff contention. They finished The Final Stretch of the season 9-3, with two of those losses in Week 20 and Week 21 when their playoff fates had been decided and Nathan Rourke only played some of the Week 20 game and none of the game in Week 21.

Will the momentum continue into the postseason?

HARRIS AND ROURKE ARE READY TO AIR IT OUT

Age is but a number for Trevor Harris. Sure, Saskatchewan’s quarterback’s bio page says he’s 40, but he’s playing at the top of his game.

Harris finished the regular season leading the league in passing yards (5,370), the first time he’s accomplished that feat in his career. “Not bad for an old man, I guess,” he smiled earlier this week.

The Riders pivot wasn’t afraid to push the ball downfield this season either, with 27 passes of 30+ yards, tied with Vernon Adams Jr. and trailing only Davis Alexander (37) and Chad Kelly (33). Harris has plenty of playoff experience, playing in 10 postseason games for four different teams.

On the other side is the 28-year-old Canadian, Nathan Rourke. Rourke found success against Saskatchewan in Week 17, throwing for 375 yards and four touchdowns. It’s not only Rourke’s quick release that makes him a threat either. Rourke’s dangerous with his legs, adding an extra wrinkle to the Lions offence for Saskatchewan to defend against.

TWO OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS

The quarterbacks of the defence, middle linebackers Darnell Sankey and Jameer Thurman have been instrumental to the success of their respective defences.

BC’s defence has been one of the best against the run all season, including finishing the year as the No. 1 team in that category, only allowing 71.3 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry. Sankey has patrolled the middle, hunting down running backs and stopping them in their tracks. He’s also made some epic stops on the goal line, including two back-to-back to seal his team’s win over the Argonauts in Toronto earlier in the season.

Sankey finished the season showcasing his ability to do a little bit of everything, with a league-leading 136 defensive plays, including 114 tackles, three sacks, an interception, 12 knockdowns, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four tackles for a loss.

Thurman, too, can stop running backs from the middle of the defence, helping the Riders to the third-best rush defence (83.7 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry). He’s also made game-changing plays, including sealing an overtime win over the Bombers on OK Tire Labour Day Weekend with a tackle for a loss. Thurman finished his regular season tied for fourth in defensive plays (112), with 100 tackles, three sacks, two knockdowns, a forced fumble and five tackles for a loss.

With each of their teams’ seasons on the line this weekend, Sankey and Thurman could be the keys to victory with one or two momentum-swinging plays.

PLAYOFF KICKERS

Brett Lauther returned to Saskatchewan near the end of the season in a trade with the Ottawa REDBLACKS and with playoff football on the horizon, having him back in the building is a good thing for the Riders. Lauther has the No. 1 field goal percentage mark of all-time in the playoffs at 91.3 per cent (21 of 23). His career-long in the postseason is from 44 yards out.

Lions kicker Sean Whyte has found success in the postseason as well, ranking No. 7 all-time in playoff scoring with 179 points.

If the game ends up being a close one, one of these two kickers may be relied upon to give the edge to their team to send them to Edmonton next weekend.

THE PLAYOFF MEETING IS BECOMING A TRADITION

They’re starting to make this a habit.

The last two years the Lions and Roughriders have met in the postseason. In both games, it was Saskatchewan that left with a win.

2025’s Western Final may be the most memorable, with Trevor Harris finding Timmy Nield for the game-winning score with 12 seconds left. And who can forget about the “it’s our time” war of words between Harris and Nathan Rourke?

The Western Semi-Final is the fourth meeting between these two clubs this season, with two of the three in the regular season going in the Lions’ favour.

But what happens on Halloween?