Riders ready for cool reception in Calgary

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are more worried about the Stampeders freezing out star receiver Andy Fantuz than they are about the weather Sunday in the CFL Western final in Calgary.

The Stampeders beat the Roughriders 34-26 in their last regular-season meeting on Oct. 17. Calgary was able to shut down Fantuz, the Riders' biggest receiving threat. Fantuz was the CFL's leading receiver this season with 87 catches for 1,380 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Quarterback Darian Durant doesn't want it to happen again on Sunday.

"They were doing their best to take him out of the game and if they decide to do that again, we have to make sure other guys get open," said Durant.

Durant said the biggest challenge is the Riders themselves.

"Just don't beat ourselves. Just play Rider football and if we do that we'll be OK," he said.

Channelling the weather

Fantuz knows he willhave to keep a closer eye on the Calgary defence than the sky.

"I'm sure they have a few wrinkles up their sleeve but we're expecting the same type of game plan. They had a lot of success with it last time we played them, especially against myself, so I'm preparing to face that."

Fantuz said the worst part of playing in the cold is catching a frozen ball with frigid fingers. But the weather won't alter the Riders' strategy, he said.

"You can't changeyour game plan based on the weather that much," said Fantuz. "If it happens to be a problem on game day, we'll make an adjustment but we're preparing to have our full arsenal available."

With the wind chill, the temperature hovered around -15 C when the Riders hit the field for practice Wednesday in Regina.

Cloudy skies overhead threatened to bring more snow as players on the benches huddled in front of portable heaters.

"You know where we play, this is how the weather goes," saidDurant. "It's just part of it and we adapt and we get ready for it because it's supposed to be pretty chilly out in Calgary so this is good."

Durant said he felt good tossing the ball in the cold Wednesday and as long as he can get his footing things will be fine on Sunday.

He doesn't think the weather will be an advantage or disadvantage to either team.

"I think we both play in places where it gets pretty cold. The altitude may be a little different out there, but as far as just it being cold, I think we both play in places that get pretty frigid," said the starting pivot.

Familiar matchup

Saskatchewan beat Calgary in theWest Division semifinals in 2006 and 2007 and in 2007,the Riders went on to win the Grey Cup.

Saskatchewan beat Calgary in the 2009 West Division final to finish atop the West Division standings for the first time in 33 years. The Riders advanced to the Grey Cup before losing a heart-breaking 28-27 decision to the Montreal Alouettes.

Riders coach Ken Miller says his team is "highly motivated" and looks forward to playing in Calgary again.

"We've played well there in recent times. We haven't always won but we have played well there and it's a great place to play because there are so many people dressed in green there," said Miller.