Friday night is one of the biggest games of the season, so far, for the Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats.

The two Trans-Canada rivals square off at the Brandt Centre to open the weekend in the fourth meeting between the two teams this season.

While the Warriors hold a 3-0 record against the Pats, this is the first game between the two teams since the WHL Trade Deadline. The Jan. 10 deadline saw Regina beef up for their Memorial Cup hosting duties, while the Warriors continued to fine tune their first place lineup.

“They got a couple of defencemen, which they needed, and they added a couple of good forwards and a goaltender, so they’re a very strong team and are going to be a lot different than the last time we played them,” said Warriors defenceman Josh Brook after practice on Thursday.

“They’re going to be better, but if we play our game, we’re going to have a really good shot.”

The Warriors enter Friday’s showdown with nine wins in their past ten games, while the Pats have eight wins over the same stretch and also have points in five straight games.

There’s a 23-point gap separating the two teams in the East Division standings, but Warriors forward Jayden Halbgewachs said the talent gap has closed and they’re expecting a tough test from the Pats.

“Their team is a lot better, they’re a very good team right now and these are huge points for us,” said the WHL’s leading goal scorer. “We’ve got to bring our best game and we usually play good against good teams.

“As long as we defend well, we’re going to take advantage of the opportunities we get and hopefully come out with two points.”

Friday has the chance to be a special night for Halbgewachs. The Warriors’ 20-year-old enters the game with 48 goals in 46 games this season and will be aiming to top the 50-goal mark for the second straight season.

Halbgewachs said crossing that barrier in his hometown and with a win would be a cherry on top.

“50 goals is pretty incredible if I can get it this early in the year, it’s obviously in the back of my head and there’s no better place than get it in Regina here,” said the Emerald Park product.

“It’s a big game for us, we need to win this game and I want to go out there and contribute as much as I can and if that happens, it’s going to be pretty special, but it’s in the back of my head and there’s more important things that getting that.”

Halbgewachs finished with 50 goals on the nose last season, scoring four in the regular season finale to hit the milestone number. This season, the San Jose Sharks prospect has hit another level, averaging over a goal per game and threatening to become the first player to top 70 goals since Calgary’s Pavel Brendl in 1998-99.

“It’s pretty crazy how the year has been going and the amount of goals that have been scored so far, you never expect to have more goals than you do games, but the success of the team is leading me there,” said the Emerald Park product.

“No guy can say their goal walking into the Western Hockey League is to get 50 goals in 50 games, not many players do it, so coming into this year, I was hoping to get 50 again, but to have 50 this early is pretty surreal.”

When Halbgewachs passes the plateau, he will join Theoren Fleury as the only players in franchise history with multiple 50-goal seasons.

The focus for Halbgewachs and the Warriors on Friday night though is walking away with two points. “At the end of the day, it’s about helping the team win and when I score, that helps,” said Halbgewachs.

The Warriors have been off since taking three out of four games during their busy four-in-five week last week. Brook said the team's been looking forward to this game all week.

"If you can't get up for this game, you won't be able to get up for anyone, it's a big rivalry, 30 minutes away and it's going to be a good one," said the 18-year-old rearguard.

"We've just got to come in with the mentality that we're the best team in the league, which we are, and we need to play with that confidence."

The Warriors and Pats square off at 7 p.m. Friday night. The Pre-Game Show is on the air at 6:40 p.m. on Country 100.

The weekend continues on Sunday afternoon for the Warriors when they head to Saskatoon to square off with the Blades at 2 p.m.