Harris, Ouellette return to practice as Riders move inside to prepare for Lions

The last two trips to Vancouver have ended with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on the losing end of their CFL contests.

Now for the team is hoping the third time is the charm as the Riders take on the B.C. Lions in the CFL West Semifinal on Saturday.

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“We have a bad taste. The last time we went out there, we played decent but not good enough to win,” said running back A.J. Ouellette, who was rested by the Riders in their 16-9 win over the Edmonton Elks.

“Too many mental mistakes. Too many dropped opportunities. We are excited to go out there and show who we are and what team we have.”

The Riders won the first meeting between these two teams back in Week 2 when both teams opened their seasons after a Week 1 bye.

But the Lions won the next two with a 30-16 decision and then a 31-24 win.

“It’s just who we have this week. It’s exciting. I like the fact that we get to go to B.C. Place and play them in their place and maybe rectify something that didn’t go well for us this year,” quarterback Trevor Harris said.

“Whoever is in front of us, we are going to go out there and play ball and play hard. I have great faith in this group.”

Head coach Corey Mace elected to have his team practice inside the AffinityPlex rather than brave the elements since they will be playing inside a domed stadium for the game — though he did so begrudgingly.

“You know me — I don’t prefer to be indoors but circumstances are a little bit different for us this week so I thought it just made the most sense,” Mace said.

This will be the third straight season the two teams have met in the playoffs — Saskatchewan won the 2024 West Semifinal 28-19 and then the CFL West Final 24-21 en route to winning the Grey Cup last season.

“(It’s) developing into a little rivalry on the West side here. Both of us have earned the right to be in the playoffs. You have to tip your hat to them because they are the ones hosting it this year, but it’s playoff football.

“Nothing that we have done in the playoffs against them matters; none of the games that we have played before matters; it’s a matter of who shows up and is able to execute and go 1-0,” Mace said.

Along with Harris and Ouellette, a couple of other starters who missed the regular season finale were on the practice field Tuesday.

Halfback DaMarcus Fields (hamstring), and wide receiver KeeSean Johnson (ankle) were limited in practice. Offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick (knee) was a full participant.

Kickoff for the game is set for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 12:30 p.m.

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