HAMILTON — After weeks of speculation, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have announced that Zach Collaros will make his 2016 debut Saturday in Vancouver.

The team confirmed Tuesday that Collaros will get the start, his first of the season after returning from a torn ACL that ended his 2015 season last September:

Hamilton visits the BC Lions on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET.

Collaros, a 27-year-old Steubenville, Ohio native now in his fifth CFL season, emerged as one of the league’s top quarterbacks last year, leading the discussion for Most Outstanding Player after throwing for 3,376 yards and 25 touchdowns against only eight interceptions.

Those hopes ended on Sept. 19 in a home loss against the Edmonton Eskimos, when Collaros suffered the season-ending knee injury at Tim Hortons Field.

Jeremiah Masoli performed well in Collaros’ absence, leading the Ticats to a 3-3 record in 2016 while ranking third in the league with 1,867 passing yards. But while throwing eight touchdown passes and breaking a record for consecutive completions in a July 23 win over the Edmonton Eskimos, he also leads the CFL with eight interceptions.

Saturday’s date with the Lions represents a difficult first test for Collaros considering BC ranks first in the league in points allowed (22.5), second in net offence (324.7 points per game) and tied for first in the league in sacks (22).

The Ticats currently sit third in the East Division behind the Argos and REDBLACKS.