This time, Bombers plan on securing home-field in West semi

WINNIPEG — Matt Nichols isn’t counting on anyone doing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers a favour.

If the CFL club wants to secure a home playoff date for the first time since 2011, the quarterback knows now’s the time to get that done with a victory this afternoon against the visiting B.C. Lions.

“It’s a playoff-type urgency for us,” Nichols said Friday after the team’s walkthrough. “I’ve been in this league long enough that you can’t count on anyone in this league to do favours for you. I totally expect Edmonton to win out.

“If you want to get to where you want to be and be a championship team, you’ve got to win games that are must-win because that’s what they are when you get to the playoffs.”

A Winnipeg (11-5) win or an Edmonton loss at home to Calgary tonight would give the Bombers second place in the West Division.

This is the second attempt Winnipeg has at controlling its first-round playoff site. Last week, the Bombers lost 29-28 in Toronto after Justin Medlock missed a 39-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.

The task would seem easier this week since the Lions (6-10) are out of the playoffs, on a fivegame losing streak and are 1-8 in their last nine games.

Not so fast, Bombers running back Andrew Harris cautioned.

“We looked at the depth chart. They’ve got a lot of their starters in there, they have some new guys in there,” Harris said.

“For those new guys, they’re going to be trying to make an impression. They’re trying to win a job for next year. And I’m sure there’s a bunch of guys going into free agency that are trying to impress as well.

“I mean, a Wally Buono team is a team that’s never going to quit so I expect them to come out flying.”