Argos, Ticats meet in pivotal Labour Day clash

Labour Day bragging rights are only part of what Hamilton and Toronto will contest Monday. The Tiger-Cats and Argonauts meet for the final time in the regular season, and the winner will take the Harold Ballard Trophy along with the season-series tiebreaker.

Toronto enters at 5-6, one win ahead of Hamilton at 4-8. An Argos victory would put them four points clear of the Ticats in the East Division, with a game in hand. Hamilton, meanwhile, can move into second place with its fourth home win of the season.

The playoff stakes are sharp because Montreal sits comfortably atop the East at 9-2. With Winnipeg and British Columbia tied at 6-5 in the West and Calgary close behind at 5-6, the fourth-place Western team could cross over for the East's final playoff position. Second place in the East therefore offers the only sure route to the postseason.

Toronto lost its previous game 28-24 in Saskatchewan after being outscored 16-2 in the second half. Chad Kelly threw for 416 yards and three touchdowns, tying Montreal's Davis Alexander for the league lead with 24 touchdown passes, but his two interceptions raised his league-high total to 17. Toronto also managed only 15 rushing yards after running for 145 in its 39-20 win over Hamilton on Aug. 22. The Argos are 4-0 when they rush for at least 100 yards.

Hamilton won the first meeting 24-23 on July 18 after Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu missed a game-ending 31-yard field goal. Hajrullahu has not played since, but his return is suggested by rookie Brady Lidster's release. Toronto has won three of the last four Labour Day meetings in Hamilton, while the Ticats lead the all-time series 37-16-1.