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Marcus Brady has never started a CFL playoff game, has won only two regular-season games for the Montreal Alouettes and after five full seasons has yet to establish himself as a proven starting quarterback.

But veteran receiver Ben Cahoon isn't fretting about the fact Montreal's hopes in Sunday's East Division semi-final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are resting on Brady instead of long-time starter Anthony Calvillo.

"Marcus is exactly what we need right now," Cahoon said. "We've had trouble protecting the quarterback all year, and Marcus can take some pressure off that aspect of the game and can do so much with his legs. He makes us a better team right now."

Better than with Calvillo behind centre?

"A harder team to defend," Cahoon said. "You have to be more on your toes and be ready for the ball to come out at different points. Hopefully, he's able to buy some time and get a big play."

Cahoon may have a point, given the struggles and injuries Montreal's offensive line has endured this season, en route to leading the CFL in sacks allowed with 68, including seven in a 32-23 loss to Winnipeg (which Calvillo started) in July.

Calvillo suffered through a disappointing 2007 marred by injuries. He left the team two weeks ago after his wife was diagnosed with cancer.

That left the offence in the hands of Brady, who had his share of troubles during last week's 20-17 loss at Winnipeg, being sacked three times and completing only 13 of 35 passes. But there's no doubt he has more natural ability than Calvillo to evade the pressure of Winnipeg's renowned defensive line.

"They're strong and their fierce," Brady said. "Between them and B.C., they probably have the best in the league. I'm sure I'll have to run.

"Sometimes, they'll force me but, sometimes, it's by design. If I can keep them off balance I can make them tired by the third or fourth quarter."

The Als enter the weekend in the unfamiliar position of underdog, having dropped all three games they played against Winnipeg this season and going only 2-5 during the final seven weeks. One win came against the hapless Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the other was by one point over the Calgary Stampeders.

Montreal's disappointing 8-10 season has reportedly produced bickering among players and coaches, leading many to believe a loss on Sunday might be the end of Jim Popp's stint as head coach.

Popp, the team's general manager since it relocated to Montreal in 1996, stepped in for the departed Don Matthews last September and led his team to the Grey Cup game before deciding to stay on.

"It's been a roller coaster this year to say the least," offensive lineman Bryan Chiu said. "But the key is just getting into the playoffs. We would love to be in first, but we can't look at the past. We have to play mistake-free football and just execute."

The notion of just getting into the playoffs sounds a little jarring coming from a Montreal team that has ruled the East Division during the regular season for most of the past decade.

Sunday's game at Winnipeg will be the first time since 2001, during Popp's previous stint as head coach, that Montreal is playing a road game during the first weekend of CFL playoffs.

"I like it in that no one expects us to win," Chiu said. "We're supposed to go there and let them whip our butts. But this isn't a best-of-seven. This is about the best team on one day, and the ball bounces in strange ways."

With the Bombers getting back several key players from injuries, including running back Charles Roberts, the Als will have to look more like a team and less like a team in transition, as they have all season.

"We've got a totally different team from a year ago," Cahoon said. "There's new faces all over the place. New quarterback, new running back, new receivers and the defence is completely revamped.

"We've been going through it all year. It's been hard to get chemistry when you look across and you're not too familiar with the guy next to you."