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“That’s the thing, it’s a different game every time you play, you’ve got to be ready for anything.”

While the Eskimos ended up losing that one 16-9, they rebounded to take the Labour Day rematch. The thing is, they didn’t just find a way to finally beat the Stampeders, they went on to beat everybody, also winning the next nine in a row to hoist the Grey Cup.

“It is a good rivalry, we love playing against them,” Reilly said. “It’s always exciting to go down to their place first and then have them back at ours five days later.

“They’re a very good football team and we feel like we are as well. That always makes for an exciting matchup.”

The Eskimos aren’t just on a three-game win streak against Calgary, they have also won the last three weeks in a row to hit the halfway mark at 5-4, after falling to a 2-4 start to the season.

“We’re headed on the right direction in a three-game deal, we’re getting better every week, our younger guys are getting better,” said Eskimos defensive co-ordinator Mike Benevides. “As a football team, this is a long process and we’re looking to get better, but Calgary is just playing at such a high level right now and it’s a challenge.

“There’s no doubt, they are the best team in the league, by far. Nobody’s even really slowed them down, if you look at it. So we’ve got to play our best ball.”

And there’s nothing like a good ol’ fashioned rivalry game to bring out the best in both sides.

“We love these guys, we’re going to be juiced up,” said Eskimos defensive end Odell Willis. “They’ve got great players over there, Bo Levi, Marquay McDaniel – which people sleep on a lot – (Jerome) Messam, he’s a pretty good back. Their defence, they fly around and get to the ball. You’ve got Charleston (Hughes) out there, you’ve got (defensive co-ordinator) DeVon Claybrooks, who is an understudy of (Chris) Jones and (Rich) Stubler – two great defensive co-ordinators in this league, no matter how people want to look at it. So they’ve got the puzzle together.

“They’ve got a great front office, but at the same time, we’ve got all that, too. That’s what makes this Battle of Alberta interesting, you’re looking at the last two Grey Cup champs ready to go to battle.”

IN AND OUT: LB J.C. Sherritt returned to practice after sitting out Friday … Eskimos top draft pick of 2016, WR Tevaun Smith, was released by the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

GModdejonge@postmedia.com

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