THE CANADIAN PRESS

REGINA -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders will host their first West Division final since 1976 on Sunday when they take on the defending Grey Cup-champion Calgary Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium (TSN, 4 p.m. ET). The two conference winners square off in the Grey Cup on Nov. 29 at McMahon Stadium.

GAME BREAKDOWN

The Roughriders will host their first West Division final since 1976. And they'll face a Calgary squad that they've enjoyed success against this year.

The Riders won the season series 2-0-1, including a 30-14 home win in the regular-season finale for both teams that clinched them top spot in the West. Once again, the Stampeders will have to face a hostile environment as Sunday's contest is a sellout with over 30,000 rabid Saskatchewan football fans taking it in.

Both teams have motivation to win. Saskatchewan is chasing its second Grey Cup title in three years while Calgary is the defending CFL champion and attempting to not only become the first team to register consecutive titles since the '96-'97 Toronto Argonauts, but the first franchise to win the Grey Cup at home since the '94 Lions.

Calgary advanced to the final with a 24-21 home victory over Edmonton in the West semifinal. Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris was 19-of-32 passing for 264 yards and two TDs after finishing second overall in CFL passing with 4,831 yards.

But the Stampeders were more than just a passing team, leading the CFL in rushing (129.7 yards per game) thanks in large part to tailback Joffrey Reynolds, the West Division's nominee for the league's outstanding player award. He finished atop the rushing race with 1,504 yards.

The Riders were vulnerable against the run this year, allowing 123.8 yards per game. The their defence did feature five West Division all-star, including ends John Chick and Stevie Baggs, who both had 11 sacks apiece. Chick was also nominated as the conference representative for the league's outstanding defensive player award.

Another factor for Saskatchewan will be the return of veteran defensive back Eddie Davis, who missed the final two regular-season game to injury.

There's a lot to like about the Riders in this game, most notably they're at home and facing a team they've had a lot of success against. Calgary is the defending league champion and knows what it takes to win in big games, but the expectation is Saskatchewan will be jacked playing in front of its wild fans.