The Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the BC Lions at Mosaic Stadium earlier this season. (Photo: Sask Roughriders)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were content to let the BC Lions do all the talking.

One day after BC Lions’ president Dennis Skulsky went on a radio station in Vancouver and guaranteed a win over the Riders, the Saskatchewan players weren’t taking the bait after their final practice at Mosaic Stadium on Friday.

“Whatever they have to do to get those guys fired up, I’m all for it,” said quarterback Darian Durant.  “I don’t have a problem with it, at the end of the day, he’s not the one playing, it’s the team.”

“That’s good, it makes the game exciting,” added head coach Corey Chamblin.  “He’s suppose to think like that, but like anything else, action speaks louder than words.”

The guarantee will see all fans in attendance get free tickets to one of the Lions’ next four home games if the Riders can win on Sunday at BC Place.

The fact that the guarantee came from the front office and not a player that will be on the field on Sunday was part of the reason that the Riders weren’t biting.  They’re content to let their play on the field do the talking.

“Whenever someone who’s not strapping up or has never strapped up is talking, it’s really not a big deal,” said Durant.

“Dan is a good guy, so I don’t want him to take too much heat for it,” said defensive end Ricky Foley, a former Lion.  “He’s probably just trying to get his guys riled up, it’s part of the rivalry I guess, but it’s a little added pressure for the boys in that room.”

The Riders might not be responding to the guarantee, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be using it as motivation as they get set to go against the Lions for the second time this season.

“This game is testosterone filled, so anytime you hear something where you feel you’re being slighted or disrespected, it just adds more testosterone to the fire,” said Foley.  “Some guys are going to use it more than others.  Some guys are going to be fired up regardless, but some guys are taking it pretty hardily.”

The Lions were the last team to beat the Riders, knocking them off 26-13 at Mosaic Stadium in Week 3.  That sent Saskatchewan into their bye week at 1-2, they’ve won four straight since.

“Every little thing is motivation, but at the same time, if you need to get motivated for this type of game by something that someone says, then you’re not in the right business,” said Durant.

The Riders face off with the Lions on Sunday at 5:00pm.  Click here for more on the green and white.