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“Duron Carter, even though he had a good game against us, he didn’t beat us (on Aug. 19). It was (quarterback Kevin) Glenn, the (offensive) line, No. 8 (Lewis). No. 15 (Sam Giguère) did a job. … They have a lot of weapons. They’ve lost one, but they’re going to bring out another one.”

Campbell said both teams would be desperate for a victory, and it’s true that Thursday’s winning squad will have an advantage if a tiebreaker is required when the regular season ends in November.

The Alouettes also have to make up ground on the Redblacks and the other two teams ahead of them in the division, the Toronto Argonauts (4-4-0) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-5-0), but the Redblacks really don’t want to spend their final bye week on the schedule lodged between a three-game losing streak and a Sept. 17 showdown with the league-leading Calgary Stampeders (8-1-1).

Maybe it will help that the Redblacks are finally going back on the road after playing four consecutive contests at home sandwiched around a bye. They’re only 1-3-1 at TD Place stadium, but 3-1-0 in other CFL locations.

“I expect (Thursday’s game) to be hard-fought,” Campbell said. “I expect a much better effort and performance out of us than we had two weeks ago. We know that we need to go in there and play good football so we have a chance to win the game.”

There was still no official pronouncement on the status of offensive lineman Alex Mateas, but it’s tough to believe someone who hasn’t practised all week and has had a protective boot on his left foot would be available for duty. Campbell said, though, that it might again come down to the last hour before kickoff before a decision was made.