THE CANADIAN PRESS

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Jonathan Brown's long wait is finally over.

The veteran defensive end will make his '09 debut when the Toronto Argonauts host the arch-rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday night (7 p.m. ET). Brown spent the first half of the regular season on the nine-game injured list with a lower back injury and can't wait to get back into the huddle.

"Oh man, it's so good to be back, so good to be back on the field again without any pain," he said. "Not being able to play the first nine (games) kind of broke my heart.

"It's not a good feeling. I wouldn't want anybody to go through what I went through for the first nine games. It was hard but I'm pretty sure it helped me get stronger and become a better man. Now, I'm going to finish up strong with these last nine games and hopefully we can get back into some kind of playoff contention."

At first glance, that would seem to be a tall order for Toronto (2-7), languishing in last in the East Division with the CFL's worst record. Hamilton added to the Argos' woes Monday with a 34-15 victory at Ivor Wynne Stadium, leaving the Double Blue essentially in a must-win situation heading into the rematch.

But the Argos return to Rogers Centre, where they've lost a club-record 10 straight games, their last victory there coming in August 2008 against Winnipeg. Toronto receiver P.K. Sam is also looking to exorcise some demons as he's yet to experience a victory with the Double Blue in the eight games he's played with the CFL club (Argos were 0-6 with him in the lineup last year and have dropped their last two since he returned after being released by the NFL's Buffalo Bills).

"I haven't won a game yet as an Argo so every game to me is important," Sam said. "We need to win this and go on from there.

"We've got to give our fans something. For them to keep paying to come see us and we lose is horrible. This is a huge game in a lot of ways."

There's plenty on the line for Hamilton, too.

The Ticats - who posted a CFL-worst 3-15 record last season - could move eight points clear of Toronto in the East Division standings. A win would also give Hamilton a 2-1 lead in the season series, with one game still to play.

Brown's return should give Toronto a much-needed boost. The six-foot-four, 272-pound lineman is entering his sixth season with the Argos and has recorded 198 career tackles and 47 sacks but is also regarded as the club's emotional leader.

"Something different," Brown said when asked what he'll bring to the Toronto lineup Friday night. "What I've brought here for six years is an aggressive style, having fun and sacking the quarterback.

"Hopefully KG (Ticats starter Kevin Glenn) gets to see me a lot. I just want to bring enthusiasm back. This is football and you've got to have fun and I think that's what we're lacking."

Argos head coach Bart Andrus, for one, is looking forward to seeing Brown back on the field.

"He's a good player, a force to be reckoned with and I hope he returns to form," Andrus said. "He's a tough guy to block.

"I've been anticipating the game that he'd return for a long time. I'm excited to see him play."

But Toronto's defence hasn't really been the team's problem this season. It's been an anemic offence that under Andrus's guidance has struggled to muster any consistency.

Andrus has also served as Toronto's offensive co-ordinator this season and been calling the plays. But the Argos head into this week's action last in the CFL in scoring (18.8 points per game), rushing (87.9 yards per game) and total yards (298.7 per game) and second-last in passing (248.9 yards per game).

And in Hamilton on Monday, Argos quarterback Cody Pickett managed just 217 yards passing - with an interception and two fumbles - as Toronto had trouble throwing the ball downfield. Running back Jamal Robertson was the team's leading receiver, registering nine catches for 46 yards as the Ticats registered three sacks and forced five turnovers overall.

Andrus has come under much fire this season for questionable on-field decisions and directing an offence that's lacked in imagination and been too pass-happy. Toronto is second-last in passing yards despite having made a CFL-high 329 attempts.

And when asked if he could put his finger on the main reason for Toronto's challenges thus far, Andrus stated the obvious.

"Yeah, we haven't won enough games," he said. "We've fallen short of where we'd like to be, where we thought we would be.

"We own the record we have because of what we've done as a team."

And while the quick turnaround is hardly ideal, Andrus found solace in the Argos facing the Ticats once again.

"That makes things a little easier," Andrus said. "You're just done playing with them and then you can make your adjustments . . . so it becomes more of a chess match that way."

NOTES - The Argos have released running back Jarrett Payton - the son of former NFL legend Walter Payton - at the player's request. Jarrett Payton had asked to be let go so he could return to Chicago and work with the Walter & Connie Payton Foundation that was established by his late father. The younger Payton - who broke into the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes a couple of seasons back - hasn't closed the door on his football career. On Thursday, the Argos signed running back/kick-returner Amos Allen to take Payton's spot in their roster.