Edmonton Eskimos' Fred Stamps celebrates a touchdown against the British Columbia Lions during their CFL football game in Edmonton July 16, 2011. REUTERS/Dan RiedlhuberDan Riedlhuber/Reuters
Slotback Fred Stamps has accomplished a lot in his previous four seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.
Stamps has twice gone over 1,000 yards receiving, been a West all-star and was the Eskimos' nominee last year as the league's outstanding player.
But Stamps has never played in a home playoff game, something he wants to change this year.
A win for the Eskimos (8-6) over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-5) on Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium would be another step toward securing that goal.
"That's one of the main things that I want to do and, as far as our team, that's what we want to do," said Stamps, who is just 82 yards short of going over 1,000 again this year despite missing three games with an injury.
"That's all we talk about. We want to finish strong these last four games and put ourselves in (that) position. It's really important to play at home. You have your crowd. You are more comfortable with things."
The Eskimos haven't hosted a playoff game since losing 14-6 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the '04 West Division semi-final.
Heading into the weekend the Eskimos were in a three-way tie for first in the West with the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders.
Head coach Kavis Reed said his team can't afford to relax even though Edmonton has wrapped up a playoff spot.
"The biggest thing is our guys have to get better every week," said Reed. "This is an opportunity for us . . . to start to really focus on and refine our efficiency and our execution level.
"That's how we are going to approach it."
Stamps feels like the playoffs have already started for Edmonton.
"We are in a three-way lock right now," he said. "We have to try and pull away form the other teams right now.
"We have to play like we are the hottest team in the CFL. We just have to finish these last four games strong and roll into the playoffs with a little more confidence and just be ready to play."
The Bombers share first place in the East with the Montreal Alouettes. The Als play the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.
Reed said the Bombers want to keep pace with Montreal.
"We are playing a very tough football team," said Reed. "They are a team that is always going to play with great passion.
"They have been very efficient in all phases of the game. It's not an easy game to prepare for because they do so many things well. As a team we know we are going to have to match their intensity level and match their execution in order to have a chance."
Edmonton was the talk of the CFL after starting the season 5-0. The Bombers snapped that streak with a 28-16 win Aug. 5. Since then the Eskimos have been 3-6.
"At the beginning of the year it was pretty good for us," said Stamps. "In the middle of the season we had a lot of injuries.
"Right now we are trying to get our chemistry back and get back on the (winning) road."
The Eskimos defence looked strong as Edmonton embarrassed the Saskatchewan Roughriders 17-1 on Monday. The Esks forced the Riders into either a kick or a turnover on all 17 Saskatchewan possessions.
Things won't be as easy against the Bombers with Buck Pierce at quarterback.
Besides throwing for 2,919 yards and 13 touchdowns, Pierce has run for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Those are numbers that can leave an opposition coach looking into the medicine cabinet.
"He's a tremendous headache," said Reed. "He can beat you not only with his arm and his intelligence, but also with his feet. He's a triple threat in that regard.
"That makes it very difficult for you as a defence in order to make a game plan for him. We know we are going to have to ad lib because that guy moves around very well."
Edmonton's receiving corps is getting healthy again, giving quarterback Ricky Ray plenty of targets.
Ray is also getting some ground support from running back Jerome Messam. He had 118 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against the Riders.
On the season Messam is just 225 yards shy of the century mark and could be an important weapon for the Eskimos if the weather gets bad in the playoffs.
"When we signed Jerome we knew we had a powerful back that can carry the load late in the season," said Reed.
Edmonton is just 1-3 in its last four home games but has a three-game win streak against Winnipeg at Commonwealth Stadium.
The Eskimos are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games at home against the Bombers.