T.J. Heath has the Calgary Stampeders and one of his new teammates squarely in his sights.

The CFL rookie defensive back will see action with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the first time Saturday in Calgary and he can’t wait to get his hands on the football.

Heath, who joined the Bombers two weeks ago after playing 10 games with the Toronto Argonauts, is second in the league in interceptions this season with five, just one back of Winnipeg dime back Moe Leggett.

“I mess with Moe cause he’s one up on me,” Heath says. “I kinda give a little hard time to let him know I’m coming eventually. It’s all out of fun and love . As long as we win, I’m happy.”

The Bombers are on a seven-game winning streak and coach Mike O’Shea isn’t in a hurry to change things up in the secondary. Heath sat out his first game in Winnipeg last Saturday against his old team, but will get onto the field in some six defensive back situations this week.

He’s in a very unique situation, having been named one of the CFL’s performers of the week for his performance in his final game in Toronto, on Sept. 11. He recorded two interceptions and seven tackles but was traded to the Winnipeg as part of the Drew Willy deal the same day.

“It was tough to just sit and watch, especially against the old team,” Heath says. “I’ve been playing all season and then had to sit out the game, but I respect the game and with that you have to respect the process. I understand that aspect of it, especially when you are on a hot streak like we are.”

The Bombers will face the CFL’s best team this week. The Stamps have the league’s most potent offence (405 points scores) and are 10-1-1 under coach Dave Dickenson.

Heath doesn’t seem rattled.

“I knew I had a lot of work to do and as soon as I got here I got to work and tried to learn everything as quickly as possible,” he says.

“I’m finally getting my chance, so I’m happy.”

SMITH SIGHTING

Slotback Ryan Smith has missed seven games already this season but he was practising with the first-team offence on Friday and has a chance to be back in the lineup Saturday.

Smith missed last week’s game after his thumb got caught between two helmets in the Banjo Bowl on Sept. 10 and his thumbnail was torn off.

Although head coach Mike O’Shea would not confirm it until Smith gets full medical clearance, it looks like he’ll replace the injured Gerrard Sheppard in the lineup.

“It’s a freak little deal, but I guess that’s football,” Smith says. “It was pretty painful but it’s fine. I just had to kind of get back into the groove of things this week and I feel pretty good.”

Smith was on the six-game injured list earlier this season, so he’s hoping to get back in the lineup and stay there for the rest of the year.

“It’s been a little bit of a rough year, but you only can control what you can control,” he says. “I can control that I come out here and practice hard and be me out there on the field.”

DOM’S NO. 2

O’Shea says Dominique Davis remains the No. 2 quarterback for the Bombers this week as veteran Kevin Glenn works to get familiar with the offence.

Glenn was acquired on Sept. 11 as insurance for starter Matt Nichols and will be the No. 2 eventually.

“We brought him in for a reason,” O’Shea says. “He’s got unbelievable veteran experience, poise, leadership. We’re going to keep on letting him figure things out.”

Davis, having been here throughout training camp and the season, would get the ball if Nicholls were to be injured on Saturday.

WHO NEEDS PRACTICE?

Running back Andrew Harris has not practised for two weeks but he hasn’t been ruled out for Saturday’s game.

O’Shea says both Harris and receiver Quincy McDuffie are game-time decisions and people shouldn’t read too much into the fact they haven’t been practising.

“You develop a level of trust with them and you give them every opportunity you can, the most amount of time that you can, for them to be able to compete on gameday,” O’Shea says. “I’ve got no problem with that. These guys have been through training camp and they know the system and you’ve certainly got to give them that opportunity. We’ve got some more time before we have to make a final decision.”

Import Timothy Flanders, who filled in last week and ran for 102 yards and a touchdown, will get the call again if Harris can’t go.

“I’ll be ready,” Flanders says.

“On offence we started kinda slow (against Toronto) so I’m planning on going out there and executing the game plan and trying to start fast.”

Flanders has been on the practice roster for most of the season, and will likely find himself back there when Harris is declared healthy.

“It’s been a long year for me but at the same time I’m just enjoying it and I feel blessed to be here,” he says.

CROWDED SECONDARY

With Heath in the mix, the Bombers secondary is getting a bit crowded and one bad game could mean a lineup change.

While they will use some six-DB packages this week, including Heath and starters Chris Randle, Kevin Fogg, Taylor Loffler, Johnny Adams and Bruce Johnson, a battle for playing time is developing.

Johnson, however, says that’s nothing new.

“Every day is a competition, whether T.J. is here or not,” he says. “He’s just bringing more competition, which we like. It makes us better. It makes us a better unit that has to stick together a lot. It was all good for him to come in, we blessed him right in, he’s learning our defence and he’s fitting in good.”