THE SKINNY

ON THE HOT SEAT

Stamps DL Frank Beltre: With Charleston Hughes on the shelf with a foot injury, it will be up to Beltre to bookend Shawn Lemon and make Zach Collaros’ life miserable on Sunday. The Stamps defensive line did an admirable job, Beltre included, after Hughes went out with the injury in the West final. Considering defensive tackle DeQuin Evans also was lost to a calf problem suffered in warm-up, the five remaining players on the Stampeders defensive line did an impressive job.

GAME BREAKER

Stamps SB Marquay McDaniel: In coming back from a broken hand in the regular season finale, the sure-handed slotback proved he’s capable of being a big-play guy again. His 46-yard touchdown strike in the West final against the Eskimos set the tone, too. Despite missing six games with the injury, McDaniel finished up the season with a career-best 12 catches for 165 yards in a win over the B.C. Lions, and now he’s back on the same turf trying to replicate that performance.

MATCHUPS

Stamps RB Jon Cornish vs. Ticats LB Simoni Lawrence: Somebody on the Ticats defence will have to stop the Stampeders running back from making a massive, gamechanging play like he did in the West final against the Eskimos. Cornish took a shovel pass 78 yards to the end zone, giving the Stamps a 20-point lead and essentially finishing off Edmonton. Lawrence is the veteran presence in the Ticats defence and will need to lead the charge against the 2013 CFL most outstanding player. Stamps cover teams vs. Ticats KR Brandon Banks: If the Stamps do nothing else this week but prepare for Banks, they probably will have done the right thing. The shifty returner had two punt-return TDs in last week’s East final, sparking the Ticats to victory. The Stamps will send the house at him to make sure he’s corralled, if they don’t kick away from him entirely. Ticats QB Zach Collaros vs. Stamps LB Juwan Simpson: Being that this is Collaros’ first Grey Cup start and only second playoff one, he can expect to see a lot of the Stampeders veteran middle linebacker. Some of that interaction will be after the play, as Simpson will no doubt be giving the Ticats pivot a word or two about how he will own him the entire day. Collaros needs to block it all out if he hopes to stay focused. Stamps C Brett Jones vs. Ticats DL Ted Laurent: It’s the West Division’s top lineman against the East Division top Canadian and it should be a fun battle to watch in the trenches.

Stamps WR Eric Rogers vs. Ticats Delvin Breaux: With two touchdowns in the West final, there is no way the Ticats will take the rookie lightly and Breaux is one of the better cover players in the East Division.

EDGE

All in Stamps favour except for defensive line and special teams

INJURY REPORT

Calgary: DL DeQuin Evans (calf ), SB Brad Sinopoli ( broken collarbone), OL Brander Craighead (abdominal), LB Yannick Carter, RB Jock Sanders (ankle), RB Hugh Charles, DL Charleston Hughes (foot), DL Ben D’Aguilar (knee), LS Randy Chevrier, LB Max Caron (knee), DL Micah Johnson (knee), WR Jeff Fuller (knee) Hamilton: QB Dan LeFevour, QB Jacory Harris, DB Emanuel Davis, DB Micheal Coe, RB C.J. Gable, LB Marcellus Bowman, LB David Caldwell, LS Marc-Antoine Fortin, OL Jeremy Lewis, OL Carson Rockhill, OL Joel Reinders, OL Greg Wojt, WR Greg Ellingson, WR Cary Koch, DE Brandon Thurmond, DE Antonio Coleman, DT Brian Bulcke, DT Hasan Hazime

NOTABLES

The Stamps and Ticats have met twice for the Grey Cup, in back to back years no less. The Stamps, led by quarterback Jeff Garcia, beat the Ticats at Winnipeg Stadium in 1998, but then lost to Danny McManus and Co. the following year at BC Place Stadium

The Tiger-Cats haven’t won a Grey Cup away from BC Place since 1972

The Ticats are just 2-7 away from home this season, with wins coming over Ottawa and Winnipeg

Meanwhile, the Stamps have a 12-2 record in their last 14 away from McMahon Stadium