The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are using Thursday's final CFL pre-season contest primarily as a tune-up for the regular campaign, starting their No. 1 quarterback and fielding a lineup that bears at least a passing resemblance to the one that will take the field when the games count in the standings next week.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, meanwhile, are most definitely not doing that.

The Bombers have brought just 41 players to southern Ontario — with unlimited rosters in the pre-season, the Ticats will dress 64 — while leaving most of their starters at home. First-string quarterback Buck Pierce, who went 0-5 passing in limited action last week, won't play at all and didn't make the trip.

Winnipeg head coach Tim Burke, who took over after the team's 2-6 start to 2012 and had his interim tag removed in November, said injuries devastated his squad in the pre-season last year and he doesn't want a repeat of the sluggish beginning.

"I want to get our starters to our first game fresh and healthy. Last year, we were a little bit behind the eight ball right when we started and we started off poorly," said Burke.

Justin Goltz (14 CFL career passing attempts) will get the start at QB and be followed by Max Hall and Chase Clement, the former Ticat who left Hamilton training camp in 2009 after just a single practice.

"We've got quite a few guys playing in this game who are fighting for roster spots, a couple for starting positions," Burke said. "They get to show if they can play CFL football against a really good CFL team."

The Ticats also have some roster decisions to make — there's still uncertainty at running back, receiver and the defensive backfield, in particular — but head coach Kent Austin says he wants Burris to develop a level of comfort with the new offence and the various personnel packages.

"Hopefully, he'll get in a couple of situations that are different than just getting up to the line of scrimmage and snapping a play," said Austin, who wouldn't say how long Burris would be in the game. "As long we experience multiple scenarios, we'll be pretty confident he's prepared."

Along with Burris, a number of other Ticat veterans will be seeing action against the Bombers. Receivers Andy Fantuz and Sam Giguère, offensive linemen Marwan Hage and Peter Dyakowski, kicker Luca Congi and punter Josh Bartel are all expected to see at least some playing time.

"I need to take the offence from a practice situation to the game, manage it and execute it," said Burris. "We need to have success and come out of the game with a good taste in our mouth."

The Ticats will also be playing their first game at their temporary Alumni Stadium digs on the University of Guelph campus, their home for 2013 while they await the construction of a new stadium on the old Ivor Wynne site.

Burris says that, while the location may be different, his routine will be the same.

"For me, it was a 30-minute drive to Ivor Wynne and it will be a 30-minute drive to Guelph," said Burris, who rents a place in Burlington during the season. "I'll be sleeping in my own bed and be able to go through my game-day ritual. It's not going to change much."

Austin says the game against the Bombers will give the team an opportunity to gain some familiarity with the unfamiliar surroundings.

"From the standpoint of getting comfortable with it — the locker-room, how we manage the sideline — all of that is important," Austin said.

The team got a taste of the 13,000-seat stadium during the Black and Gold Game earlier this month and Burris it reminded many of his teammates of their college days.

"We love the atmosphere and it's something we've talked about," Burris said. "It's time for us to make that home."