HAMILTON — Jeremiah Masoli will be the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ starting quarterback for the second straight week, the team announced Monday, as Zach Collaros has been ruled out for Week 18.

Collaros suffered an upper body injury during the Ticats’ 36-17 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in Week 16 and has not played since.

“Zach will be out this week,” Head Coach Kent Austin told Ticats.ca. “He is doing a lot better though, because as you can imagine, Zach is always doing everything in his power to get better and to improve.

“The most important thing is his health and for him personally his career, and second, for us as an organization to do right and not push it and make sure he comes back completely healthy.”

That means Masoli is back on the reins heading into a rematch with the East Division-leading Ottawa REDBLACKS on Friday night in the nation’s capital, as the Ticats zero in on a playoff spot while Ottawa aims to clinch first place in the East.

Masoli moved the offence and threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-29 loss to the REDBLACKS at Tim Hortons Field in Week 17. However, the 28-year-old continued to struggle with turnovers, throwing two more interceptions — his ninth and 10th of the season.

The Ticats are 3-4 in games Masoli starts vs. 3-5 in games Collaros has started.

Hamilton clinches a playoff spot with a win or a Toronto Argonauts loss on Friday night. The Ticats currently sit three points back of the first-place REDBLACKS and need at least a tie to stay alive in the East Division hunt.

– With files from Ticats.ca