Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea was asked this week if his team hates the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders, their opponent Saturday in the CFL’s West final.

“It may be a strong word for the general public,” he said. “And I don’t know that it’s directed at any particular opponent. It’s any opponent. Anybody you’re playing at this time of year. It is a real thing.

“Each team is trying to take something away from the other team. And everybody believes they should have it.”

In this case, it is a spot in next weekend’s Grey Cup opposite the winner of the East final between Toronto and Montreal, who play earlier Saturday in Quebec. Winnipeg is gunning for its fifth straight trip to the Grey Cup title game.

The last two have been bitter experiences for the Blue Bombers, who were heavily favored both times but lost. Last year, they blew a fourth-quarter lead and lost 28-24 to Montreal.

Winnipeg will need a big game from its offensive line. It has a championship quarterback in Zach Collaros and a proven running back in Brady Oliveira, but its line has to win in order for both to perform.

“The way (Saskatchewan’s) defense plays, they lean on their D-line. The way our offense plays, we lean on our O-line,” Winnipeg center Chris Kolankowski said.

Meanwhile, Saskatchewan hopes to carry the momentum of last week’s 28-19 win over B.C. in the West semifinal into its fourth meeting of the year with the Blue Bombers. Winnipeg has won two of the first three matchups.

Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris, who threw for 279 yards and a touchdown last week, is optimistic his team can split the season series and play for the Grey Cup next week.

“These are the games you live for and these are the games this team lives for,” Harris said. “And I think our DNA and who we are will come through in this game, too.”

Saskatchewan has struggled in Princess Auto Stadium the last six years, though, dropping eight straight games there. That includes a 26-21 defeat in the teams’ last meeting on Sept. 7.

–Field Level Media