(Written by Marc Smith)

After falling victim to the import ratio for the past few season, Hugh Charles could get his shot this weekend against the Calgary Stampeders.

 

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are expected to be without the services of starting tailback Wes Cates after he’s sat out the first two days of practice this week.  Cates suffered a leg injury late in the team’s 27-24 win over the Montreal Alouettes in Week 4.

 

Head coach Greg Marshall says Cates is questionable heading into this weekend’s game, “We're still waiting to see.  We sat him out again (Thursday), we talked, he's better, but if he can't go, the other two guys have gotten the work, so either way, we're prepared.”

 

Charles hasn’t started a game since filling in for the injured Cates for the first two games of the 2009 season.  He made the most of the opportunity that time around with 29 carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

 

“I've got to look at it as just doing my job and letting everybody else see that I can be a starter and get the job done and fill-in big shoes such as Wes Cates' whenever he's out,” said Charles after practice on Thursday.

 

“If Hugh's the guy that goes this week, I would expect big things from him,” added Marshall. “He's done a good job in limited opportunities, he's an explosive runner, he's good at catching the ball out of the backfield and the area that he's probably improved the most at this year is in pass protection.”

 

While some in Rider Nation are excited to see the explosive back get his shot in the backfield, some might be worried about handing the ball over the four-year CFL veteran after his costly fumble last week in Montreal.

 

With the Riders leading 27-17 in the final minute of the fourth quarter, Charles put the ball on the ground, allowing Montreal to pull within a field goal.  There was no damage done though as the Green & White would hold on for the win.

 

Charles says he learnt his lesson with that fumble, “I knew the situation, I knew we were running the clock down and I knew I had to hang on the ball, I've just got to be more cautious of what I'm doing and have two hands on the ball whenever you're down on the goal line or whenever you're trying to run the clock out.”

 

“That definitely lingers in your head, but it was unfortunate that it happened at the wrong time of the game, but I've got to throw it out and know that there's another down to play and I'm going to have to be the starter and step up to the plate this weekend,” said Charles.

 

The Riders host the Stamps in the first meeting between the two West Division rivals, 7:30pm on Saturday.

 

In other Rider news...

 

A major milestone will be reached during this weekend’s game at Mosaic Stadium as 17-year Rider vet Gene Makowsky will equal Roger Aldag’s record for games played in a Roughrider uniform at 271.

 

Makowsky says he hasn’t really thought about hitting the mark, “I'm trying to get back to five-hundred here, so I'm not much for individual stats, but I guess anytime you're mentioned with Roger Aldag, you're doing something right and if I can measure up to him in anyway it's a good thing.”

 

Coach Marshall reiterated that statment, “When you start talking about guys being in Roger Aldag's company, you're talking icon, so it's pretty impressive.”

 

“Obviously you have to stay healthy, so I've been extremely fortunate that way and I've had great teammates that have helped me along,” added Makowsky.

 

“It's certainly a dream come true for myself and I'm the luckiest guy in the world to be able to play for the Roughriders and to play so long and to be able to stay healthy.  Best franchise in the league, in my opinion, and just couldn't be happier to play in front of these fans and this province that loves football so much.”

 

Makowsky is set to break the record on August 5th when the Riders visit the BC Lions at Empire Field.

 

Thursday’s CFL action

BC 20 v 25 Winnipeg

 

Friday’s games

Montreal at Hamilton - 4:30pm

Toronto at Edmonton - 7:30pm