Dave Turnbull | BlueBombers.com

WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers travel to Montreal for their first taste of preseason action on Thursday night. 

While the end result won’t matter in the standings, the coaching staff will use it as a way of evaluating the players in a game atmosphere, something they can’t always see during training camp.

“We’re taking a lot of first-year players and leaving most of the vets at home,” said Head Coach Paul LaPolice.  “You always have an idea of what a player can do and what their talents are, but this game will go a long way in showing what they can do when the lights come up and guys are flying around.”

Quarterback Buck Pierce remains in Winnipeg which means Alex Brink, Joey Elliott and Justin Goltz will see a quarter of action each running the offence.  The signal caller for the fourth quarter will be determined by the coaching staff.

“This is exciting for me to get back out on the field during a game,” said Elliott, who missed most of last season after tearing his ACL in week three. 

“It’s a test for everyone – quarterbacks, receivers, defensive players – we have to show what we can in this game with the tools that we’re given so that we can all make a case for keeping our jobs.”

Also staying home is incumbent running back Chris Garrett who played in six games last season after taking over for the injured Fred Reid.  NFL veteran Chad Simpson, practice roster holdover Bloi-Dei Dorzon and 2010 draft pick Anthony Woodson will all look to take advantage of the extra playing time.

“We all know that the results don’t matter but we still want to do everything in our power to win the game for our teammates,” said the 26-year old Simpson. 

“Whether it be returning kicks or taking handoffs, I want to show these coaches and the fans what I can do so that I can be a Winnipeg Blue Bomber this season.”

On defence, competition is heating up along the defensive line and veterans Jason Vega, Kenny Mainor and Dorian Smith will all be participating and competing against a slew of rookies. 

Defensive ends Alex Hall and Brandon Akpunku have had a good training camp thus far, as have interior linemen Brandon Collier, Andre Caroll and non-import Ryan Lucas. 

The Blue Bombers traded their sack leader from a year ago in Odell Willis to Saskatchewan in the offseason, so this will be a good test to see how much pressure they can get from their relatively untested linemen.

The other key position battle to watch is at middle linebacker where former first overall draft pick, Henoc Muamba, battles fifth-year player Pierre-Luc Labbé for the starting spot.