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“They were the team that gave me the opportunity out of university, so I’m always thankful and grateful for that.”

While it’s true Hamilton provided a launching pad on the way to 13 defensive tackles, 25 special-teams tackles and a sack, his return to Edmonton has seen him reach new heights on the gridiron.

Starting all 16 games on defence this season, Neil has 46 tackles to go along with 12 more in his special-teams contributions, while also adding a forced fumble and the first two interceptions of his career.

“But it’s going to be a business trip,” Neil said. “We’re going to go back there and it’s going to be a hard fought game.”

That’s because his old and new teams are headed on a collision course for a probable playoff matchup in either two or three weeks’ time, with the Eskimos claiming the crossover spot with either their next loss or a win by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers over the final two weeks of the schedule.

“Anything can happen,” said Neil, who didn’t necessarily see this post-season possibility back when he joined the Eskimos, but has been around the league long enough to not be surprised if it happens. “Any team can cross over anywhere, so you’ve just got to be prepared to play anyone at any point.

“It’s going to be exciting if we do go back out there to play them in a playoff game. But this is going to be an exciting game to set the tone and tempo.”

But he wouldn’t exactly call his first trip back to Tim Hortons Field a homecoming. After all, the Ticats called a few different stadiums home during his time with them.

“My rookie year, we were in Moncton,” Neil said, recalling the 2013 Touchdown Atlantic. “We played our home games in Guelph my rookie year because Ivor Wynne was under construction, so we were taking buses to and from McMaster to practise.

“We were just all over the place, so it was exciting times.”

GModdejonge@postmedia.com

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