It wasnB次元官网网址檛 the regular season the B.C. Lions planned for.

After starting the campaign 5-1, the Leos faced challenge after challenge B次元官网网址� injuries, an extended losing skid, a quarterback controversy B次元官网网址� and finished third in the West with a 9-9 record.

Now B.C. is looking to use that adversity as fuel as it heads to Regina to meet the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-8-1) in the West semifinal on Saturday.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great that weB次元官网网址檙e battle tested,B次元官网网址� said defensive back T.J. Lee. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been through a lot.B次元官网网址�

Playoffs are the great equalizer, where every teamB次元官网网址檚 record resets to 0-0, said quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

B次元官网网址淲hatever happened during the year, it does not matter. You have to come to play regardless,B次元官网网址� he said Thursday. B次元官网网址淪o regardless of who you are, if you got a first-round bye or not, you have to come to play. And thatB次元官网网址檚 it. We just want to play our best football moving forward.B次元官网网址�

The Lions know there are more setbacks ahead, said head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell. The key to weathering them will be focusing on one play at a time.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 going to be the name of the game. Playoffs is really about resiliency and bouncing back. And youB次元官网网址檝e got to do that on both sides,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen something bad happens, you move on. If something good happens, you move on and do it again.B次元官网网址�

B.C. heads into the playoffs well rested and healthy following a bye week. The Lions last played on Oct. 19 when they downed the league-leading Montreal Alouettes 27-3.

That result wonB次元官网网址檛 count for anything come Saturday, Campbell noted.

B次元官网网址淚rB次元官网网址檚 always better to win than to lose, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think when you shift to playoff mode, itB次元官网网址檚 just a different deal and itB次元官网网址檚 all do or die.B次元官网网址�

The Riders finished their regular season with a 27-12 loss to the Calgary Stampeders last week.

After splitting the season series with Saskatchewan, though, everyone in the B.C. locker room knows theyB次元官网网址檙e in for a battle come Saturday, said running back William Stanback.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a fiery team. They can execute on all cylinders,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a team that you really have to watch out for and be well prepared to go up against. But weB次元官网网址檙e a confident group. We know what we can do, what weB次元官网网址檙e capable of.B次元官网网址�

The Riders limited Stanback B次元官网网址� who had the second-most rushing yards (1,175) in the CFL during the regular season B次元官网网址� to just 35 yards when Saskatchewan trounced B.C. 39-8 back on Oct. 12.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes, as a running back, you get games like that,B次元官网网址� said the 30-year-old American. B次元官网网址淏ut you just have to be mentally strong where you donB次元官网网址檛 get frustrated and understand every game isnB次元官网网址檛 going to be like that.B次元官网网址�

The Lions possess another major offensive threat in Justin McInnis, who led the league in receiving yards this season with a career-best 1,469.

The 28-year-old receiver from Pierrefonds, Que., said he worked hard for the accomplishment B次元官网网址� and that hard work continues as the post-season begins.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 super proud of myself,B次元官网网址� said McInnis, a former Roughrider. B次元官网网址淏ut at the end of the day, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean nothing if you donB次元官网网址檛 get that Grey Cup at the end of the year. A good year is a good year, but I want that championship.B次元官网网址�

The Lions have won the West semifinal two years in a row, beating the Stampeders both times. While not everyone on the current roster was in the locker room for those games, many of the players have ample post-season experience theyB次元官网网址檙e reflecting on as they prep for SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 tilt.

B次元官网网址淲e just have to be the team that has more will,B次元官网网址� said Stanback, who won a Grey Cup with the Alouettes last season. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to have more fire in our hearts, and we have to have just the extra enthusiasm to win our one-on-one battles.B次元官网网址�

After a regular season stacked with challenges, the Lions feel they have a lot more to show in the playoffs.

B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 scratched the surface of our potential,B次元官网网址� said Lee. B次元官网网址淪o thatB次元官网网址檚 what IB次元官网网址檓 excited about, shining at the right time. Every team has to find that boost at the right time of the year to persevere and win the championship.B次元官网网址�