Article content continued

Smith missed three games, including last Sunday’s tilt against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, this season with different ailments but said he’s eager to face the Edmonton Eskimos in the provincial showdown.

“I’m feeling great,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to get out there.

“Last week was just a precautionary thing. I could have played, but it’s a long season.”

The Stampeders (7-1-1) come into September riding an eight-game unbeaten string and sit five points clear of the Eskies (5-4) in the West Division.

But that separation won’t mean much to the fans on Monday.

And it doesn’t mean a whole lot to the six-foot-two, 303-lb. run stuffer, either.

“The records might not show it, but the way Edmonton and us are playing at this point in the season, it’s a big matchup,” Smith said.

“We only play them twice and look what happened last year.

“They got the tiebreaker on us and the home-field in the western final made a big difference.”

Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson said he thinks the 24-year-old has come far enough over the past two weeks that he should be able to play in front of his folks, who made the trip from Scarborough, Ont.

“I like his chances,” Dickenson said. “We feel confident in that three-man rotation inside with the Canadians.”

“Another reason I really like Quinn on (the roster) is he gives you some relief at O-line if you get into a big bind.

“He’s a good defensive player, but he has that versatility that has helped us in the past.”

Smith, along with fellow Canucks Junior Turner and Derek Wiggan, gives the Stamps great Canadian depth at tackle, allowing Mace to keep everyone fresh.