It's been a pretty long drought.

Way too long.

The last time the Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders on the Labour Day weekend was 2004.

This Sunday would be a great time to end that slump

The Roughriders have fashioned a five-game winning streak and own a 6-2 record.

Winnipeg has reached the midway point of the 2014 CFL season with a 6-3 mark.

Saskatchewan beat the Blue Bombers 23-17 at Investors Group Field on August 7th so a win in Regina would even the season series at a game a piece setting up a huge rematch next Sunday for the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg.

“This is a big battle, a big rivalry for both of us,”said Winnipeg defensive back Maurice Leggett who leads the league with five interceptions. “Emotions are going to flare up and there will be a lot of hard ball playing.”

Weston Dressler is expected to make his season debut with the defending Grey Cup champions on Sunday afternoon.

The veteran Riders slotback was released by the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week and promptly signed with Saskatchewan.

The Bombers secondary knows Dressler is a game-changer.

“By far he is,” said defensive back Chris Randle. “That's something we will have to prepare for. We're preparing for the whole team but he is a special player.”

The Bombers couldn't stop the run in that loss to Saskatchewan in early August.

Jerome Messom carried the ball 19 times for 129 yards – in the second half.

Winnipeg's offensive line also had a tough night.

The holes weren't there as Nic Grigsby managed just seven yards on 10 carries and quarterback Drew Willy was brought down five times behind the line of scrimmage.

John Chick had three of those sacks.

“He's not Superman but he's pretty darn close,” said Bombers offensive lineman Glenn January of the CFL's sack-leader. “He's playing the game really well and that whole front four is very talented. Even their whole defense is very talented. It's definitely a formidable challenge for us and it's something we've been preparing for. We know we have to pack a lunch come Sunday.”

 

Winnipeg head coach Mike O'Shea was asked what makes a good road team