TORONTO

Jeff Keeping continues to take steps as he inches closer to returning to the field.

He prepares as though he will play knowing full well there are no assurances.

When you're a veteran and you've been around the block like Keeping, there's no point in rushing back, especially when a team is 2-0 and the offensive line has played well in both games.

"It's hard to tell,'' said Keeping, who has been out with a leg injury.

"Everybody is different, guys are different, but as an athlete you want to play.

"The hardest thing is knowing when to pull back. I'm just trying to do what our trainer's tell me and take the proper protocol."

Last week when Keeping knew he'd miss the game in Regina, he prepared as if he would be suiting up.

"You have to stay mentally sharp if you're unable to go,'' he said.

"I'm planning the same way, just preparing as though I'm playing and each day hoping it keeps progressing."

Keeping, when he is healthy, starts at centre.

In his absence, the Argos have started first-year lineman Greg Van Roten, who would have lined up at guard.

At left tackle, first-year player Bruce Campbell has protected the blind side.

Both Campbell and Van Roten have been impressive.

"They've each been in their books from the get-to in training camp,'' said Keeping of the newcomers, both Americans.

"That's a great sign when you have guys who are coachable and they learned our system fast, are detail oriented, that's just off the field.

"On the field, they are mean guys, are aggressive and it's been great to watch them play."

Overall, the Argos have quality and depth on the offensive line, which hasn't always been the case in recent years.

A week ago, the Argos gave up four sacks in a win over the Riders.

"Sack totals are bogus,'' head coach Scott Milanovich said.

"Our line is protecting well. They gave up one sack when we decided we weren't going to block the D-end and the other ones were coverage sacks.

"It was almost the same thing against Edmonton. Some of that is on (quarterback) Trevor (Harris)."

Despite his high-end play, Harris has, at times, held on to the ball too long.

Milanovich made sure offensive line coach/assistant head coach Jonathan Himebauch reminded his players of that fact.

"They (offensive linemen) need to understand the few extra sacks,'' added Milanovich.

"(Harris) is protecting the ball and not putting our defence in a bad situation.

"He's also gotten out from a number of those (pressure) situations, scrambled and made plays for us. I don't look at sack totals and worry about them."

HAWKINS FINALLY GETTING HIS SHOT

Travis Hawkins has waited for his moment, persevering through a quad injury during camp that led to the Argonauts placing the first-year defensive back on the injured list.

He was good and his play was even better given how Hawkins played through the injury in hopes of making the team.

Barring some kind of setback, Hawkins will make his debut in a CFL regular-season game Monday night in Calgary.

He lined up at strong-side linebacker at times during camp, but against the defending Grey Cup champions, Hawkins will start at halfback.

"He had earned himself a spot," said head coach Scott Milanovich of Hawkins, who can also play corner. "We expect him to be a good football player."

Quad injuries can be fickle, one day healthy enough for a player such as Hawkins to perform, the next day too tender to take part in any drills.

Deep in the corner of the north end zone of the team's practice field one can find many of the team's injured players going through various stretching routines with yoga experts.

Hawkins calls the area "boot camp."

"I feel good now, healthy,'' said Hawkins. "The first or so (while) I didn't do much. I was over there (Hawkins pointed to the area in the end zone) in boot camp, I call it, getting my body right.

"And then this past week I started running with our trainer Scott (Shannon) and it felt good. I had to see the doctor to get cleared."