He might not be letting onto it, but this week's game is definitely one that Charleston Hughes has had circled on his calendar for a while.

Saturday night's meeting between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders will mark the first regular season game for Hughes against the team that he played for over ten seasons.

"I'm approaching this week like I do any other week, it's just to play football and get sacks," said Hughes after practice this week.

Hughes broke into the CFL with Calgary and registered 99 sacks over ten seasons in red and white.

Prior to the preseason matchup with the Stampeders, Hughes compared facing Calgary to seeing an ex-girlfriend, but this week, he said he's moved on now and his focus is on the Roughriders picking up another victory.

"Do you remember any exes from a year ago?", Hughes questioned. "I’m onto bigger and better things now, I'm trying to do what I've got to do to lead the league in sacks for the third year in a row and that's my plan."

The 34-year-old hasn't lost a step this season and has been making a big impact for the Riders in recent weeks. Hughes is currently leading the league in sacks with six through five games. He led the league with 11 last season and 16 the year before.

"I feel great about my performance this year and I feel that I can still get better, I haven't even hit my peak yet this year, I will sooner or later, in this game or the next," said Hughes.

"You're only as old as you feel and I feel like a million bucks."

Hughes picked up a strip-sack touchdown in Saskatchewan's win over Hamilton three weeks ago and then he followed it up with another sack in last Thursday's 31-20 win over the Ti-Cats.

Those two wins have given the Riders a nice boost and Hughes feels they're ready for the challenge of going up against the undefeated Stampeders.

"I feel good, I'm very confident, we're coming off some big wins, so I feel like we're playing at very elite level and we have a chance to play another West team," said Hughes.

Saturday's contest will be the Riders' first against a West Division opponent this season after opening with five straight games against the East.

"We're up for the challenge and I know they're up for the challenge too and we're ready to play," said Hughes.

The Riders and Stampeders kick-off at 7 p.m. Saturday from a sold-out Mosaic Stadium. For more on the game, listen to this week’s edition of the Rider Report Podcast.