Suddenly, it's Casey at the bat

Irony is so often misused you can miss the real thing when it comes by.

On Saturday in Regina (3:30 p.m. CT), it's coming by big-time in the appearance of Casey Printers, who will likely get the start for the B.C. Lions against Saskatchewan.

Printers last quarterbacked the Lions in 2005 when, frustrated by nagging injuries and endlessly embroiled in a pivot controversy with Dave Dickenson, he decided to leave and sign with the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs.

This is the same guy who stewed on the sidelines as the Lions lost the Grey Cup to Toronto because coach Wally Buono wouldn't put him in despite the QB's regular season efforts that would earn him the league's most outstanding player nod.

And the one who, having failed with the Chiefs, signed with Hamilton in late 2007 and during the next year or so set off another controversy when dressing room tensions were ascribed, fairly or unfairly, to him.

So now when Buono and B.C. needs a win so very badly, and don't have any healthy quarterbacks left, here's Casey.

"If I have to go, then that's what has to happen for the team, and that's what's going to happen," said Printers, whose younger brashness seems to have been replaced by a more adult approach.

Buono wouldn't officially say if Printers will go, or if it will be Travis Lulay (himself the third stringer just weeks ago behind the now wounded Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson), and his bad shoulder.

Bet on Printers, who knew when he signed to the practice roster a month ago he was coming back to a playbook he already knew well.

"Your memory doesn't forget," Buono said. "Right now, he's picking up the signals well.

"From what I see in practice, his eyes are good, his reads are good."

Amazing in a way that the Lions are even in this spot, having won three in a row to get back in the battle for a home playoff game in the West despite all the trouble at quarterback.

Sitting at 8-7 and a point back of the Riders' 8-6-1, a victory in Saskatchewan puts B.C. in the driver's seat because winning their final two contests after this would wrap up at least second.

Calgary is not out of reach three points up.

For the Riders, winning is also vital if they are to stick with the Stampeders in the battle for first, a week off in the first round of the post-season and home field in the West final.

They don't have as strong a defence as other contenders in the league, and need to score a lot of points to compensate, something they can do with regularity.

Quarterback Darian Durant's 20 touchdown passes are tied for third in the league with Edmonton's Ricky Ray but they still need a little more from the running game.

Wes Cates has 800 yards on the ground, and that's last of the eight starting running backs in the CFL.