REGINA -- You can't touch it, says Henry Burris. But you can feel it. "You can feel the excitement just by going to the grocery store,'' says the Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback.

"You can feel the intensity. The fans come up to you and pat you on the back and say 'Get the Eskimos. They've haunted us so long.' ''

It's been 28 years since the Roughriders finished ahead of the Eskimos in a set of CFL West standings. There hasn't been a playoff game here since 1988 and they missed the playoffs for 12 straight seasons before that. And now it's there. It's in the air.

"It's a pretty big deal in this town right now,'' says offensive lineman Gene Makowski, a Saskatoon product who has played more games as a Roughrider (164) than anybody else in his 11 seasons.

"Everywhere we go people are wishing us luck. They're not threatening us or anything ... that's what they were doing a few weeks ago when we were 4-8.''

WON FOUR STRAIGHT

Now they've won four straight and go into Sunday's battle for second place even-up against the Eskimos, a team which can clinch a 33rd consecutive playoff position and a 23rd home playoff game since Saskatchewan last won one back in 1976, the last year they finished ahead of Edmonton in the standings.

"There's a buzz around the city and it really transmits to the team. That's the thing about playing here. There aren't many cities where offensive linemen get recognized in the community, but people know who you are here. When you're winning, it's great. The whole community is with you. You really feel that everybody is on the same team. Even when you lose ...

"I've heard the theory that Saskatchewan fans love their team so much that they support us no matter what, and that means there's not as much pressure to succeed. They pat you on the back even when you are losing. That's part of the equation.

"All I know is that I'd love to get that home playoff game for Saskatchewan, win a Grey Cup for Saskatchewan to pay them back for all that support through thick and thin. That's my personal goal before my career is done.

"In a nine-team league it seems almost silly it's been that long since there was a playoff game here.''

Makowski says finishing ahead of Edmonton in the standings would be part of the pleasure.

"Fans here are envious of Edmonton. They don't like the Eskimos,'' he said of the visitors who have only managed six wins in their last 21 games in Taylor Field, not counting last year's Grey Cup victory here over the Montreal Alouettes.

"A lot of times over the years I've heard people say 'I don't care how you do as long as you beat Edmonton.' ''

Kicker Paul McCallum hasn't played as many games as a Roughrider as Makowski due to injuries. But he's been here a half-season longer. And he has a perspective like nobody else on this team.

"I work for Sask Energy in the off-season and travel all over the province - one end to the other, all four corners ...

'THEY STILL CARE'

"I've never seen fans in any sport or any league like we have all over the province here. Whatever you do, they still care.

"As a player you want to do it for them in a bad way. But after all these years I want to do it for myself, too. It's been a lot of dry years.

"There was a point when the fans were just happy if we won a game and then happy for us just to be competitive,'' he said.

"But this team has become more and more competitive. Now they want us to win.''

McCallum says it's a testimonial to the team that they didn't give up on their season when they were 4-8.

He says his season mirrored the team.

"I sucked gas,'' he said of his kicking.

Now he's got it going. And so do his team-mates who are coming off a bye week after having defeated Montreal a week prior to the Eskimos win over the Alouettes.

"We never gave up. Now it's there for us.

"We've got to play the way we did against Montreal and fine-tune a few things as well,'' he said.

The Roughriders want to make the Eskimos (or Winnipeg Blue Bombers if it works out that way) have to come back here for a playoff game in Taylor Field, not just because the fans haven't had one for so long.

"It's a hostile environment,'' he said.

"Our fans are relentless.''

Burris says the fans have been able to see it coming.

"It's not how you start, it's how you finish. You could definitely see a team forming here. We've slowly been getting the right players at the right positions.

"All I can tell our fans is that I'm going to go out and play my heart out for this team.

"I'm going to out and play my heart out for Danny Barrett,'' he said of his head coach.

"He's had so much faith in these guys. He's believed in these guys so much. I want to win for these fans and Danny Barrett from the bottom of my heart.''

That's what the Eskimos are up against Sunday. It's more than just a game.