CFL.ca Staff

VANCOUVER -- The B.C. Lions will take their first steps towards repeating as Grey Cup champions tonight, as they play host to Darian Durant and the Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Place Stadium in CFL pre-season action.

Both teams will start the game with their respective starting quarterbacks under centre, but don’t expect to see reining Most Outstanding Player Travis Lulay and Riders pivot Darian Durant for very long.

While both teams are set at the QB position, with both Lulay and Durant firmly cemented in their spots, there appears to be a battle brewing in the vacated positions behind them.

With usual backup Jarious Jackson wearing Argonaut Double Blue, tonight will be a test for Lions backup hopeful Mike Reilly.

After taking just six snaps in 2011, Reilly will be counted on to take control of a much larger role in 2012. While he has impressed the Lions coaching staff during the first half of training camp, tonight marks the first test in deciding whether or not he can handle the added pressure.

Meanwhile, the Riders have a backup quarterback situation of their own. Gone are the likes of Ryan Dinwiddie and Cole Bergquist, in are import pivots J.T. O’Sullivan, Levi Brown and Drew Willy.

The three passers will likely all see game action tonight, in hopes of improving their chances of permanently playing behind Durant.

Sticking with the Riders offensive backfield, expect a heated battle for the starting tailback spot to begin tonight. Brandon West seems to be the leading candidate to replace the departed Wes Cates. However, newcomers such as Kory Sheets, Demetrius Crawford and DeShawn Wynn are very much in the running.

Tonight will also feature the head coaching debuts of both Mike Benevides for the Lions and Corey Chamblin for the Roughriders.

Benevides, who takes on the difficult challenge of replacing the venerable Wally Buono, will aim to keep momentum flowing from last year’s Grey Cup victory, hoping to avoid a championship hangover.

Chamblin, meanwhile, takes over for a Riders squad that is aiming to rebound following a disappointing 2011 season.

However, Riders GM Brendan Taman was quite busy during the off-season, and has provided Chamblin with a seemingly new and improved roster.

Among the new recruits in Riderville is 2012 first overall pick Ben Heenan. As of now, Heenen is slotted at the backup right guard spot. He should, however, see ample playing time throughout the pre-season.

On the other side of the field, the Lions will send out a lineup filled with veterans, including receivers Geroy Simon, Arland Bruce, Shawn Gore, Akeem Foster and Kierrie Johnson.

The five played significant roles in B.C.’s Grey Cup victory, and will aim to shake off the rust in tonight’s outing.

On the defensive side of the ball, second overall pick Jabar Westerman will make his CFL debut tonight as well

Kickoff is at 10pm ET and can be seen on TSN.