There have been a lot of early mornings for the B.C. Lions this week.

Practices and team meetings were bumped up in an attempt to get players working on eastern time while they trained at the clubB次元官网网址檚 facility in Surrey.

The modifications are simply part of being a crossover team, said Lions head coach Wally Buono.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think playing in the east will have any effect on their body clocks because weB次元官网网址檝e turned their body clocks so theyB次元官网网址檙e more on eastern time,B次元官网网址� he said after practice on Thursday.

The Lions (9-9) will battle the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8-10) on Sunday in the CFLB次元官网网址檚 Eastern semifinal.

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The CFLB次元官网网址檚 crossover rule started in 1996, and comes into effect if the fourth-place team from one division has more points than the third-place team from the other division B次元官网网址� the Lions are the 11th crossover team, with all coming from the West.

A crossover team never has reached the Grey Cup game, though some have come close.

Last year, the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Ottawa Redblacks in the Eastern semi, then lost a tight battle with the Toronto Argonauts in the division final.

The Argos went on to capture the championship, beating the Calgary Stampeders 27-24.

This year marks the fifth time B.C. has clinched the leagueB次元官网网址檚 crossover spot, sending the squad across the country to kick off the playoffs.

ItB次元官网网址檚 also the third year in a row that a western team has headed east in the post-season.

Buono said his players have been good about making the necessary adjustments. The team flew out to Hamilton on Thursday afternoon, looking to get in as much practice time as possible in unfamiliar territory.

Everyone on the team knows the importance of a playoff game, he said.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e more intense and theyB次元官网网址檙e more exciting,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址滻f youB次元官网网址檝e been involved in playoffs, you know what to expect.B次元官网网址�

Practice this week has reflected that intensity, said veteran Lions quarterback Travis Lulay.

B次元官网网址淚t feels like a locked-in room, a room that understands the opportunity at stake here,B次元官网网址� he said.

This will be the fifth time in six years that the Ticats have hosted a playoff game.

B.C. last made a post-season trip to Hamilton in 2009, when the Lions clawed their way to a 34-27 overtime win over the Ticats. In the East final, the Lions were routed by the Montreal Alouettes 56-18.

Hamilton and B.C. split their season series this year.

The Lions came from behind to beat the Ticats 35-32 in overtime on Sept. 22 at B.C. Place. Hamilton responded the following week by steamrolling B.C. 40-10 at Tim Hortons Field.

What happened in the regular season doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter now, Buono said.

B次元官网网址淭he playoffs are competitive. As soon as the playoffs start, your record goes down the drain,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e not an 8-10 team, youB次元官网网址檙e a playoff team.B次元官网网址�

Both teams are heading into SundayB次元官网网址檚 matchup on three-game losing skids, but the Lions coach said he isnB次元官网网址檛 concerned.

B次元官网网址淚 always feel like an underdog,B次元官网网址� Buono said. B次元官网网址淏ut thatB次元官网网址檚 never stopped us.B次元官网网址�

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press