RedBlacks aim to clinch East in clash with Tiger-Cats

The Eastern division playoff picture could become a lot clearer this weekend.

Ottawa will square off against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday, and a RedBlacks victory will give them the Eastern crown. Hamilton, on the other hand, can also punch its ticket to the postseason with a win, and eliminate the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes in the process.

To do so, the Ticats will have to get the job done without quarterback Zach Collaros, who is slated to miss his second straight game with a concussion. Jeremiah Masoli will get the call again in his place, after throwing for 278 yards and three scores in last week's loss versus Ottawa.

If Hamilton hopes to win the return match, Masoli will have to avoid turnovers. The RedBlacks intercepted the pivot twice last week, helping them pull out a narrow 30-29 victory.

Ottawa's been powered by Henry Burris in recent weeks, as the 41-year-old appears to have recaptured the form that earned him the league's Most Outstanding Player award a year ago.

Burris went 27-of-39 for 393 yards and a touchdown in last week's win. Another effort like that, and the RedBlacks should be celebrating a division championship.