THE CANADIAN PRESS

SURREY, B.C. -- Playing smarter doesn't mean quarterback Buck Pierce will change how he plays the game.

An injury to Jarious Jackson means Pierce will start for the Lions when they face the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday (10 p.m. ET) at B.C. Place Stadium. It will be his first CFL action since suffering concussion-like symptoms in B.C.'s 36-28 victory over the Argos in Toronto on Aug. 14.

Jackson came off the bench to throw two touchdowns in that win.

"I feel good enough to go out there and do everything that I can do in my game," Pierce said Friday at the Lions practice facility. "I feel like I can run and I can scramble.

"I feel if I have to limit myself, then I shouldn't be out there playing."

No one questions Pierce's courage. He may have a warrior's heart but after two concussions this season, and five in the last 11 months, there are fears over how many more hits his head can endure.

"The hits you are going to take are hits you really can't avoid," Pierce said. "I just need to go out there and play.

"I can't limit myself. I can't handcuff myself in any way. I'm a player that likes to stick his nose in there. I just have to be a little smarter about it. I will try to take care of myself, but I'm also going to be the same player."

Jackson will be out three to five weeks with a damaged rotator cuff. He suffered the injury in the Lions' loss to Montreal last week.

If Pierce can't get the job done, the Lions' fate falls into the hands of Travis Lulay, a CFL rookie who has served time in the NFL with Seattle and New Orleans.

Wally Buono, the Lions coach and general manager, said he'd have no hesitation to play Lulay.

"I have a lot of confidence in Travis," he said. "He's been around the block.

"He has enough of an understand of what we are doing, I am comfortable."

This week's game has implications both in the standings and the record book.

Buono is looking for his 232nd career victory. That would give him one more than Don Matthews.

Like he's done all season, Buono played down the significance of moving past Matthews.

"This is not something that has really been too much on my mind this week," he said. "We've had a lot of things to deal with.

"Not to downplay anything, let's focus on what is important and that's getting our fifth win."

The Lions (4-6) are also just two points behind the Edmonton Eskimos in the battle for third place in the West. Toronto and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are tied for last in the East at 3-7.

The Argonauts will be looking to snap a losing streak against the Lions.

The Argos haven't won at B.C. Place since 2002 and have lost their last nine games against B.C.

Toronto, which did not win back-to-back games all last season, comes to Vancouver after an overtime victory against Hamilton last week.

"We're upbeat from a big win we needed," said offensive lineman Rob Murphy, the former Lion who signed as a free agent with the Argos. "We are going to try to continue the monument this week."

Head coach Bart Andrus said the sudden switch to Pierce at quarterback won't affect Toronto's defensive schemes.

"We faced Buck in the first game," said Andrus. "When I look at all three of their quarterbacks, they are very similar in what they do.

"They do go about it a little differently, but we don't see a tremendous change in the offence or how the play is called based on which guy is in. We feel good about our plans."

Cody Pickett is expected to start at quarterback for Toronto.

"He's been pretty solid," said Andrus. "He is playing very well at this point.

"He's come along each week and is getting more comfortable with the offence and how the defence decides to defend us."

Jackson and Pierce bring different skills to the game.

Jackson is bigger and has the stronger arm. Pierce, who started the season as the Lions No. 1, is better at managing a game.

Jackson likes throwing the long ball, while Pierce is content to work his way down the field with short, accurate passes.

So far this year Pierce has completed 105-of-166 passes for 1,167 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The Lions schedule gets even tougher after playing Toronto. B.C.'s next three games are against West rivals Calgary, Saskatchewan and Edmonton.

Linebacker JoJuan Armour said the Lions aren't looking past the Argos.

"Our record isn't spotless," said Armour. "We can't afford to look ahead."