Revenge is sweet, but a victory would be sweeter.
The Edmonton Eskimos have dropped both their previous meetings with the B.C. Lions this season and would like nothing better than to walk away with a win from BC Place stadium on Friday.
The Lions stormed through Commonwealth Stadium twice this year with a 40-22 blowout and a 34-31 sqeaker. Both losses cut deep, but this week's rematch has nothing to do with payback and everything to do with playoffs.
The Week 18 tilt will decide third place in the West Division while the loser is left with just the possibility of crossing over to the East.
"You can't go out there and try to make it a revenge game," said Eskimos middle linebacker Maurice Lloyd. "By that time, you've lost your mindset on what you're out here for.
"It's not to pay these guys back. Our mindset is to come out here and play and solidify ourselves a playoff spot.
"We're not coming out here trying to say these guys beat us two times, we must win and pay them back because by that time you've taken yourself out of your game, trying to do things that you're not responsible doing --things you don't normally do: trying to hit the quarterback; trying to hit the running back and make plays.
"The plays will come to you if you just stay focused and stay in your character. This game comes down to just who wants it more."
Eskimos head coach Richie Hall couldn't care less about what happened in their previous meetings with the Lions this year.
"We're going in to play to win," he said. "Revenge for what? They beat us two games.
"I don't look at it as a revengeful game, I look at it as a game that we have to win in order to continue to playing for this year.
"And they're looking at it as a game that they have to win to continue playing. So it's a game where it makes you or breaks you.
"What happens for the first 17 games of the season, who cares? It's a one-game season."
Mann still not ready
After missing last week's game against the Toronto Argonauts, WR Maurice Mann (leg) has missed the last two days of practice and is doubtful for Friday's game against the B.C. Lions.
"He feels better than he did, but relative to play, relative to practice that's another story," said Hall. "He sounds pretty down.
"I know when I talked to him during practice (he's) frustrated for himself personally, but at the same time he provided leadership and encouragement out there for the players during practice."
On top of that, SB Fred Stamps was missing from the practice field yesterday.
"Fred, he just felt a little twinge so we're just more or less taking a cautious approach and just letting him rest," said Hall.
OL John Comiskey was out due to illness yesterday along with return man Tristan Jackson.
"Tristan came in early and they sent him home just like Comiskey," said Hall, who expects Jackson to be ready for Friday.
"We've kind of got that flu bug going through our team just like a lot of other teams."
FB Mathieu Bertrand and FS Jason Nugent (ankle) both returned to the practice after sitting out the day before.
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