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On Monday afternoon, the Montreal Alouettes will field their regular lineup one last time before the playoffs.
On Mount Royal, this Thanksgiving Day game will therefore have a special significance. While many members of the organization are dreaming of revenge, quarterback Davis Alexander has chosen to play it down. In his view, the fact that this rematch of the championship game didn't take place earlier in the season takes away some of its luster. He's simply looking forward to facing a formidable rival on a holiday.
Linebacker Pier-Olivier Lestage, on the other hand, makes no secret of his eagerness. He finds it strange to have had to wait 16 weeks to face the Riders again and admits that there's always a little extra pleasure in spoiling an opponent's party. When confronted with this idea, Alexander smiled, while pointing out that 11 months have passed and that both teams should have moved on.
Byron Archambault, special teams coordinator and assistant head coach, believes that the two matchups against Saskatchewan—including next Saturday's game on the road—are of great importance to everyone.
A Lightened Roster in Saskatchewan
Danny Maciocia and Jason Maas have, however, hinted that some starters will be rested for the second matchup, given that nothing is at stake. It's a difficult decision for competitors like Alexander to accept, but the goal remains the Grey Cup. Even Tyson Philpot, who is chasing personal records, supports this approach.
Lestage is well aware of the risks: in 2023, he was injured during the final game of the regular season and missed out on winning the championship, his name never having been engraved on the trophy. He'll play anyway, unless told otherwise.
These final games will finally serve as an opportunity to test new positions for certain players, in order to expand the team's options for the playoffs.
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