The Argos haven’t been home since June 23, a much-hyped opening night at BMO against a rival that wasn’t sold out when it should have been.

The Argos are now home for two in a row and close out the month with three games against Eastern opponents before the calendar turns to August, a month that sees the Argos play only three times, all at home.

They’ve been pining for a place to call home and now is the time to parlay homefield into a true advantage, regardless of how many fans show up beginning Wednesday against Ottawa and then on July 25 when Montreal comes to town for a Monday night game.

The month ends with the Argos visiting Ottawa on July 31.

At 2-1, the Argos are in a position to supplant Ottawa for first in the East, one of those proverbial four-point games with a lot at stake this early in the season.

The Redblacks have been the story heading into Week 4, but Hamilton is now preparing for the return of Zach Collaros, whose presence in the pocket shifts the power ranking in the direction of the Hammer.

The Argos find themselves very much in the middle, a team that has shown improvement since its Week 1 loss at home to the Ticats, but the offence is far from a finished product unlike the passing juggernaut that is Ottawa’s attack.

Almost to a man, the Argos will tell you how their opening night setback proved to be a much-needed wake-up call, one of those necessary losses that forced everyone to look within themselves and realize how much work was required.

Ricky Foley speaks passionately about energy and how the team became revitalized during games in Regina and B.C., two Argo wins where the offence didn’t turn the ball over, where the defence forced turnovers and where special team were improved.

“We relied too much on the crowd,’’ Foley said of that loss to the Ticats. “The hoopla, all those bells and whistles, we thought the crowd would hype us up. We weren’t who we were that night.

“We go on the road, us against them mentality, and day before the game the locker room was jumping, everyone was dancing and having fun. And that’s who we are. Maybe guys in the room don’t know yet, but from experience I can tell you that’s who we are. We’re an energy team, we need to be alive, we need to be hyped, but at the same time we can’t experience those peaks and valleys.

“We keep our energy up and I don’t think anyone will be messing with us.”

The Redblacks won the East last season and have been playing good football to begin the season, going on the road to avenge their Grey Cup loss to Edmonton, beating the Als and then returning home to play to a tie game against Calgary last Friday when Ottawa essentially fumbled the game away.

Trevor Harris and Chris Williams have been on fire, by far the most explosive pass-and-catch combo in the CFL.

Even if people in Toronto don’t realize the magnitude of Wednesday night — and the lack of buzz is embarrassing with next-to-nothing in the way of promotion — this is a big game, the Argos about to enter a huge early season stretch with a realistic chance to take control of the East, if all three phases are executed.

The three home games in August are against Winnipeg, Edmonton and B.C. before Labour Day rolls around a home-and-home set with Hamilton.

“Zach is coming back,’’ Foley said. “Hamilton is going to start playing better. Ottawa was the best in the East and these games are critical to start the year.

“We win (Wednesday) and we go into a bye week feeling good about ourselves, 3-1 and in first place. We then can keep it rolling.”

Head coach Scott Milanovich understands how each game, no matter the opposition, is important, but he also acknowledges a divisional meeting and its importance.

“We talk about it,’’ he said. “It’s a big game. It’s early and it doesn’t mean anything, but if you lose it you’re essentially two games back and you’re playing chase. For a fourth game of a season, it’s as big a game as it gets.”

The return of Harris is a huge storyline followed closely by the early season exploits of Williams.

Throw in the need to attract fans to BMO and the obvious theme of establishing a home field and a lot will be in play.

“I honestly don’t look far ahead,’’ Milanovich said. “But this could be a pretty significant stretch of games. If you do well you can put yourself in a nice situation. If you don’t then you’re playing catch up for the whole season.”

HAZELTON READY FOR ANYTHING

Vidal Hazelton is preparing for just about anything the Redblacks plan to throw at Toronto’s passing game.

Man, zone, zone looks disguised as man coverage, cover four, everything is on the table, everything possible as Hazelton and the rest of the Argos receivers go up against a revamped Redblacks secondary where injuries have forced some changes in personnel.

Admittedly, Hazelton looks at the defensive back he’s likely to face, but the Argos do move their receivers around.

As a second-year player, Hazelton is being asked to do more and learn more as his presence grows in the offence.

“I got to take a look at all the DBs,” Hazelton said of Ottawa’s back end. “They all play well, good man corners, but they can be beat.”

Hazelton caught two touchdown passes in Toronto’s Week 1 loss to Hamilton.

He’s only scratching the surface, but maturity has helped Hazelton in his evolution.

“I looked myself in the mirror this off-season,” he said. “I wanted to correct the things I can control, be aware of when I can be myself, have fun but also know when coach wants it to be serious. I’m still a work in progress, lifting a lot more this year, feeling really good, my body feels good and hopefully I can keep it going.”