HILLTOPS GEAR FOR REGULAR-SEASON FINALE.

The Saskatoon Hilltops have nothing at stake when they host the Calgary Colts in their Canadian Junior Football League regular season finale on Sunday.

The Hilltops (6-1) have already clinched home-field advantage throughout the Prairie Football Conference playoffs, making the outcome against the winless Colts meaningless.

That’s the scenario on paper.

hat’s not the scenario on the gridiron though.

“We’re going to go play our Sunday best,” said Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, noting play schemes and player fundamentals and attitudes need to improve.

“I need a team that plays with energy and focus for 60 minutes. Until I see that in a spot where I’m comfortable with (it), they’re (the starters) going to stay on the field. It’s that simple.”

The situation heading into the weekend is similar to that of two years ago.

In the 2011 regular season finale, the undefeated Hilltops hosted the winless Edmonton Huskies, losers of 31-straight games.

The Hilltops built up a 22-0 lead late in the second quarter before Sargeant called in his backups. They lost 31-22.

But even with so little on the line again, Sargeant isn’t likely to adopt the same strategy.

“Totally different,” he said. “Every team’s different. Every year is different. It’s a gut feel. My gut’s telling me this team needs to play until I’m happy.

“That might not be until the end of the game. It might be in the second quarter. It might be in the third quarter.”

Sargeant’s frustrations stem from the second half of last Sunday’s game against the Edmonton Wildcats.

The Hilltops built up a 17-point lead by the intermission, but had to hang on for a 29-20 victory.

The Hilltops lead the PFC in points scored (223), fewest points allowed (115) and thus point-differential (plus108).

But they were inconsistent, especially on offence.

“You’re up 22-5 at halftime and then you win 29-20 in a close game. To me that’s a lack of killer instinct, a lack of confidence,” Sargeant said. “Whatever happened from halftime to the end of the third quarter was a tremendous lack of focus, a lack of respect for the game and your opponent. It almost cost us.

“I’ve had to say that a few times this year.”

Part of the reason for the Hilltops’ struggles last Sunday was their special teams play.

Kicker Brett Thorarinsson had two field goals and two punts blocked in the contest.

Sargeant said missed assignments — poor blocking — were mostly to blame for the kicking woes and that Thorarinsson would get his chance to make amends.

That said, Sargeant wants to see a better performance from his punter and place kicker.

“He’s certainly lost something over the last three games,” the coach said. “There’s no question.

“He’s not the same kicker we had at the beginning. Hopefully we can get him right by the end.”

Thorarinsson made his first seven field-goal attempts this season, but went 0-for-3 last Sunday.

He wants his fortunes to change against the Colts.

“I have to come out with the same energy and focus as I did before and play the game like you’re not going to miss,” he said.

The game is a big one for the Hilltops because they want to exact a little revenge against the Colts after last season.

“Calgary’s a team that beat us twice last year,” Sargeant said. “I don’t forget those things.”

But more importantly, the coach’s focus is to have his team firing on all cylinders with the post-season beginning next Sunday.

“This is our first playoff game,” he said. “I want to see how the team looks. I want to see how they carry themselves, conduct themselves on every play. And I want to see how they finish.

“If we leave (the game) pretty happy here, then we have something to build on for another Hilltop playoff run. That’s what we’re looking at.”