While some starters will rest, the standard remains the same for Riders

While the Saskatchewan Roughriders are expected to rest a number of starters this week, defensive backs coach Josh Bell believes there’s no quit in the team.

“We want to play football. The guys out here want to have fun. It’s cold out here today so you want to be running around and playing. In perspective, you want to put it on guys. In reality, you can take your tail home as soon as you want. You can stop working whenever you want, you just don’t have to be on this team. You can let up if you want to, you just don’t have to be on this team. You can go wherever you want to and do whatever you want to do at this point but what we’re going to do is ride,” Bell said.

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The Riders clinched first place in the CFL West Division with its 27-19 win over the Toronto Argonauts last week, meaning the final two games of the regular season won’t have any impact on where the team will finish in the standings.

Up first will be a showdown with the Bombers in Winnipeg on Friday. Kickoff for the game is set for 6 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show will begin at 4 p.m.

In the practices ahead of the game, a number of starters have been in backup spots this week, including quarterback Trevor Harris, with Jake Maier taking starting reps there.

On defence, defensive backs Marcus Sayles (ankle) and Rolan Milligan Jr. (knee/foot) could sit this week to get healthy.

But Bell said he only has one speed — go.

“That’s the only button I have on the guys — it’s go, go go. When you hunt, you hunt. It’s hunting season until they pass out that Grey Cup,” Bell said. “The expectation is we do the same thing each week.”

That expectation is to go 1-0 this week.

“Any time you go out there, it’s to win,” offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller said. “The (game is an) opportunity for guys who are here to play. We talk about it at the start of the year — no matter what year you’re in or a rookie or a veteran all-star, you’re here because we believe in you and we expect that when you get out there, you will play winning football.

“We believe what our brand is and we believe anyone we put out there can do that and we’re expecting to do that and play and play hard and go 1-0.”

Saskatchewan has beaten the Bombers in both previous games this season, winning the Labour Day Classic 34-30 and then the ensuing rematch 21-13. While the Riders have clinched the top spot in the west, the Bombers are still trying to clinch a playoff spot.

The Riders will host the West Final on Nov. 8.