HAMILTON

The CFL provides its most entertainment when the very best line up against each other with the football stakes at their highest.

Zach Collaros and Mike Reilly won’t be asked to defend each other or tackle one another, but the quarterback who plays the best Sunday afternoon at Tim Hortons Field will advance to next weekend’s divisional final with a berth in the Grey Cup at stake.

Big-time playmakers who are among the best leaders in football, the Collaros-Reilly quarterback duel promises to be the showcase matchup this weekend, perhaps the post-season’s best mano-a-mano backdrop outside of a Grey Cup date.

Reilly was the MVP of last year’s championship, while Collaros watched, unable to do anything other than provide moral support as Jeremiah Masoli took the Ticats to within one possession of playing for a title.

On paper, Reilly has the edge in the Eastern semifinal, his receivers healthy and fully engaged in the Edmonton system that will air it out from virtually anywhere on the field.

Collaros needs to get on the same page with a revamped receiving unit in the wake of injuries, but his ability to make plays with his feet, move the pocket and competitive edge are always important when the pocket gets collapsed.

Collaros hasn’t played in a post-season game since the 2014 Grey Cup when he was lights out in the second half against Calgary, nearly leading the Ticats to their comeback win.

“I think they (playoffs) are exciting. Probably four years ago, I’d say it’s more a pressure feel,’’ said Collaros. “But there are a lot of veterans in there (Hamilton’s locker room), guys who have played in the playoffs who know what it’s like. I just think everyone is excited.

“We’re 0-0, the records don’t matter. We’re just ready to go out there and play.”

The slate is clean, yet anyone carrying a microphone or a note pad will bring up how Hamilton ended the season by losing its final four home games, how Edmonton came to the Hammer to knock off the Ticats and how well the Eskimos have functioned on both sides of the ball heading into the playoffs.

Come kickoff, whatever has happened in the past has no bearing on the outcome, a bounce here or there, a penalty in some crucial moment or some improvisation by either Collaros or Reilly having the biggest impact.

Collaros is a fiery competitor, but his level of intensity is even more pronounced after last fall’s experience when he had no control on the game’s outcome.

“Last year was miserable,’’ said Collaros, one of the true good guys in the CFL. “It was tough. It was out of my control and things (injuries) happen in this game. I think anyone will tell you how it’s a different feel in the playoffs. Should it be that way all the time? Probably, but everyone has turned it up another notch with their preparation and focus.”

The Eskimos has been improving on defence under first-year co-ordinator Mike Benevides, who joined the team in the off-season.

Under Chris Jones, the Eskimos played more press man this season and sent pressure.

This year’s defence is anchored by a very solid front four, arguably the best in the CFL, and middle linebacker J.C. Sherritt, who sat out last week’s season finale against the Argos.

Defensive backs Pat Watkins, who was a teammate of Collaros in Toronto, and Brandyn Thompson will also be back this week.

“It starts up front them with,’’ began Collaros of Edmonton’s defence. “They are very, very good. They create one-on-one matchups and they have four or five very good defensive line. We’re going to have to start there, be able to run the football and get those guys (Edmonton’s D-line) to move sideline to sideline to take some of the pressure off of our guys (Hamilton’s O-line). It’s hard if you have to drop back 50 times and expect to block Odell Willis 50 times because you are going to lose one of those matchups.

“They are very good up front, J.C. is a great linebacker, (Deon) Lacey has done a good job and they are solid in the back end. But again, I really believe it starts up front. Those guys have gotten better as the season has gone on and it’s going to be a challenge for us.”

Collaros believes it’s incumbent on him to play “situational football.”

“Just knowing the context of the game, how the defence is playing, how we’re playing,’’ said Collaros. “If we’re in a second-and-20, do we need to play field position or do we need to make a play? All those kinds of things. In every game, they are important, but it’s definitely amplified come playoff time.

“That’s on the quarterback. The quarterback has to know the situation, when to scramble, when to put your head down for a first down, when to get out of bounds, when to slide, all those different things come into play.

“For me, it’s just football.”