THE CANADIAN PRESS

WINNIPEG -- Depending on which side of the fence you're on, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos could each be ripe for the picking in Saturday's CFL matchup.

On one side you have the Eskimos, who've opened the season with an 0-3 record and have been outscored 29-0 in the fourth quarter.

On the other side are the 1-2 Bombers, who are being led by quarterback Steven Jyles in only the second CFL start of his five-year career.

Jyles is confident about replacing starter Buck Pierce (sprained knee), but doesn't think playing at home against the winless Eskimos gives his team an advantage.

"I've played against some teams that were 0-3, 0-6 -- whatever," Jyles said after Thursday's practice at Canad Inns Stadium.

"They still come to play football. You still come into the game as if they're undefeated and try to dominate."

Jyles, 27, spent the first two seasons of his career with Edmonton. He moved to Saskatchewan, where his offensive co-ordinator the past two years was new Bomber head coach Paul LaPolice.

Being around the league for a while and familiarity with the offence has boosted his confidence at starting for the first time since October, 2008.

"I learned a lot from watching a lot of great guys play," Jyles said. "I feel pretty good about myself. I'm confident in myself and just ready to go out and play football."

Pierce was hurt in the third quarter of Winnipeg's 28-7 loss to Hamilton last week. Jyles went in and completed 9-of-13 passes for 86 yards and one touchdown.

Edmonton linebacker Maurice Lloyd doesn't think a Jyles-led squad will be more vulnerable than one with Pierce behind centre.

"I played with Jyles in Saskatchewan and he's a very well-rounded quarterback -- he can throw, he can run," Lloyd said.

"It may take him a little bit to pick up the defence, but as a football player, as a quarterback, there is no difference."

The last time the Eskimos opened a season 0-3 was in 2004, but you have to go way back to 1965 to find the last year they started 0-4.

What's hurt Edmonton this season has been dropped passes and turnovers. They're last in the league in takeway-giveaways at minus nine, with two interceptions, five fumbles and four turnovers on downs.

The Eskimos lost to Saskatchewan 24-20 last week and to the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes 33-23 the previous week.

Edmonton's second-year head coach, Richie Hall, said his team has "been our own worst enemy."

"(Saskatchewan and Montreal are) the two best football teams in the league, but we had opportunities to put them away," Hall said.

"Unless you go out there and do (it), it comes back to bite you in the butt and that's what it's done for us the last two weeks."

LaPolice noted Jyles came in on his day off and spent three hours watching film.

"He prepares like a starter each week," LaPolice said.  "He's had a great week. He threw the ball well so he's got a good opportunity to go show what he can do."

Winnipeg's game plan always includes running back Fred Reid, but with Jyles getting his feet wet, Reid's touches may increase.

He's ready and willing.

"That's the goal -- I want to come in and have a big game," Reid said.

Notes -- Edmonton defensive lineman Dario Romero is back after an ankle injury ... Winnipeg's secondary is again without veteran safety Ian Logan and halfback starter Alex Suber . . . Eskimo slotback Fred Stamps tops the league's receivers with 24 catches for 399 yards. Bomber Terrence Edwards is second with 16 receptions for 318 yards . . . About 23,500 tickets had been sold for the game by Friday afternoon.