CALGARY - With bye week in the rear-view mirror, Canada West football begins the playoff push this weekend – and the University of Calgary Dinos are going bear hunting.

The second-ranked Dinos (4-1) will look to clinch a playoff spot and possibly a home playoff date Saturday when they head up the QEII to face the Alberta Golden Bears (3-2) at Edmonton's Foote Field. Game time is 2 p.m., live on CanadaWest.tv (pay-per-view).

A victory would guarantee a postseason berth for the Dinos and, pending the result of Friday night's Manitoba-Saskatchewan contest, could clinch at least second place and a first-round home playoff date. Either way, the Dinos remain in full control of their playoff destiny: if they win out, they'll finish first and enjoy home-field advantage through the Hardy Cup.

Much has changed since the Dinos and Bears met up to open the season in a 71-3 victory for Calgary – including the score of that game. Now officially a 1-0 Alberta victory, the Sept. 5 result threw a wrench into the playoff picture and the Golden Bears come into the game at 3-2 on the season after subsequent home wins over Regina and Manitoba. Thanks to that, the Bears hold a one-point edge in the season series, so the Dinos would need to win by at least a deuce to earn the tiebreaker outright.

There are plenty of storylines on both sides of the ball in this one, and there's always a little added emotion anytime the provincial rivals meet. And for the first time in a very long time, there are added stakes in the Battle of Alberta. Here's a look at the two teams:

No. 2 Calgary Dinos (4-1)
Last week: defeated Regina 59-7; next week: host UBC

After squeaking past Manitoba at home, the Dinos headed into the bye week on a winning note with a comfortable 59-7 win over Regina back on Oct. 4.

Quentin Chown was the main offensive catalyst for Calgary, rushing for 95 yards in relief of Mercer Timmis, who sustained a leg injury in the opening minutes of the game after running for 77 yards as the Dinos thundered downfield for 393 yards in that contest. Timmis will sit one more week for Calgary in preparation for the playoff run, giving Chown his first career start at tailback for the Dinos this week in Edmonton.

While Timmis remains sidelined, however, Calgary will be as healthy as they've been all year at receiver – and it's a dangerous group. Jake Harty is back after missing the Regina game, as is Brendon Thera-Plamondon – giving Andrew Buckley plenty of options behind the Dinos' solid offensive line.

Also on the offensive side, Calgary kicker Johnny Mark is two points from history: already the all-time leading scorer in University of Calgary history with 355 points, Mark needs just two more to become Canada West's all-time leader – surpassing Jamie Boreham's career total of 357. The national record is 422, held by Western kicker Lirim Hajrullahu (2009-13).

Also key to the bounce-back performance against Regina was the Calgary defence's performance, allowing the pass-happy Rams offence just 277 yards through the air and only 72 along the ground. The Dinos remain the top defence in the conference, allowing just 17.2 points per game on average and allowing fewer total yards, rushing yards, and passing yards than any other squad in Canada West.

The Dinos return home next week to face the UBC Thunderbirds before wrapping up conference play Nov. 1 at Manitoba.

Alberta Golden Bears (3-2)
Last week: defeated Manitoba 38-31. Next week: at Saskatchewan

The Golden Bears have held serve at home all season, and but for a bounce here or there could easily be 3-0 at Foote Field. This week, they'll face their biggest test as the Dinos come north.

For their part, the Bears believe they're ready. After being whitewashed by the Dinos 71-3, Alberta returned home and took Saskatchewan to overtime before succumbing to the Huskies – and they had their chances to win that one. A week later, the Regina Rams fell victim to the hard-working Bears and, after a road loss to UBC, Alberta stunned No. 10-ranked Manitoba before the bye with a 38-31 win to improve to 3-2 – and Alberta could be playoff-bound, with a very plausible scenario meeting Calgary in the opening round.

The Bears boast the second-best run game in the conference, averaging better than 170 yards. While that's still 120 yards less than Calgary's average, it's a big step forward for the Bears, with second-year tailback Ed Ilnicki leading the way with 80 yards per game and a conference-best seven rushing TDs.. The Bears have given up more than 200 rushing yards per game, however, and they'll need to tighten up the line of scrimmage to limit Calgary's potential along the ground.

Fifth-year Calgary native Curtis Dell, who missed the season-opener against the Dinos, is right in the thick of it with 272 yards per game and is third only to Calgary's Buckley and Regina's Noah Picton in completion percentage at 59.1. Adam Zajdel has been his top target, averaging better than 50 yards per game on 14 receptions.

Alberta heads on the road for its final two games to wrap up the season. Next week they visit Saskatchewan, followed by a season-ending trip to Regina that could decide the final playoff spot.

-UC-