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Pruneau has been itching to get back in the lineup. A thumb injury sidelined him earlier in the season.

“Finally,” Pruneau said. “It is frustrating, especially with a leg injury. If my thumb is broken, I can play football. But, if my leg doesn’t work, that’s another thing.

“It was important to me (to play Friday) for a bunch of reasons. I want us to perform well for our fans who have been following us all year. The season’s over and we’re not going to make the playoffs, yes, but it’s not going to work like that. There are still going to be some fans out there who have paid for a ticket to see us play. Also, for my self-confidence, it’s good to get out there and know I’m capable of playing good football.

“I’m getting pay cheques. If I’m available, I have to play. I understand injuries are going to happen. But I would feel guilty if I feel like I’m ready to go and I’m not dressing. It’s important to me to be out there. It’s been a good week of practice for me, I’m confident it’s going to go well in the game.”

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia

“I’ve always known and appreciated guys like Pruneau. He’s all-in being a Redblack on and off the field,” head coach Rick Campbell said Thursday. “We have more guys like that, too. It makes you really appreciate them.”

Pruneau isn’t happy about the way the season went for his team, which is coming off three Grey Cup appearances in four years.

“We didn’t grow enough from what we did last year,” he said. “We didn’t do a good job of building off what we had. The more you lose, the harder it gets. You have the injuries — some of our leaders went down — it’s harder to put the team back on track.”