The Calgary Stampeders will welcome the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to town on Friday night for the first home game on the 2016 schedule. Kickoff for the Western Division showdown is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT.

The Canada Day contest will mark just the ninth time in franchise history that the Stamps will be taking to the field on July 1, all of which as the host team.

The Stampeders picked up three victories in three tries against the Blue Bombers in 2015 including one on home turf thanks to a 40-yard field goal from Rene Paredes with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Both sides enter the matchup looking for their first win of the young season after both coming up short in Week 1. Calgary dropped a 20-18 decision to the BC Lions while Winnipeg was ousted 22-14 by the visiting Montreal Alouettes.

Ex-Stampeder defensive back Chris Randle, now in his third season in Blue and Gold, was arguably the Bombers’ finest defender in their loss to the Als as he recorded six tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.

Two notable threats that the Calgary defence will be looking to limit are Winnipeg native Andrew Harris and four-year veteran Darvin Adams. Harris, a running back by trade, tallied 120 combined yards one week ago and Adams notched 100 receiving yards including a 63-yard touchdown. The former Auburn Tiger also scored a long-range major last season at McMahon, connecting with Drew Willy on a 79-yard score.

Beginning this weekend, two of the Stampeders’ next three games will come against the Blue Bombers. The squads will next hook up on Thursday, July 21 from Manitoba’s Investors Group Field.

Key matchup

The two lowest-scoring teams from Week 1 both failed to surpass the 20-point plateau and will be looking to increase their offensive output. Winnipeg was held scoreless in the first half of their affair with Montreal and Calgary was limited to eight points over the final two quarters in Vancouver.

Paul LaPolice is entering his second stint as the Bombers’ offensive coordinator while Dave Dickenson has overseen the Stampeders’ offence since 2011 before recently adding head coaching duties to his repertoire.

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Comparative team stats (from 2015)

Click here to download the Stamps’ position chart and roster

Click here to download Game Notes