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It was hard to tell the biggest CFL game of the year was just hours away.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders appeared relaxed and confident at their final practice at Rogers Centre on Saturday, the eve of the Grey Cup game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Assistant coaches went through a few things with the players while others stretched, jogged and casually tossed the ball around during the 40-minute walkthrough. Players wore jerseys and warmup gear, leaving the equipment and helmets in the locker-room.

Saskatchewan defensive lineman Scott Schultz said he's excited but is trying to treat it like a normal game.

"It's just some fat guys running into each other," Schultz said. "That hasn't changed, just the venue has."

A sellout crowd of 52,230 will be on hand for the first-ever matchup between the two teams in the championship game. Quarterback Kerry Joseph, who was named the league's most outstanding player earlier in the week, said his team will be ready.

"We've just got to come out and just play like we've been playing all year," Joseph said. "It's another football game. It's just the stage is a little bigger now."

After finishing the regular season at 12-6, the Riders downed the Calgary Stampeders 26-24 in the Western semifinal before surprising the B.C. Lions 26-17 in the division final.

Joseph is confident but still expects a few butterflies in his stomach before kickoff.

"It's not so much being nervous," he said. "It's that anxiety of wanting to get out and get it going."

Joseph leads an offence that averaged an impressive 27 points a game in the regular season. The defence was first against the rush but seventh against the pass.

On Saturday, the Riders weren't worried about statistics or how they got here. They were enjoying themselves and looking forward to the opportunity at hand. Lineman Jeremy O'Day said the team's camaraderie is strong.

"It's the best I've seen since I've been here," O'Day said. "We don't take football as a job, we take it like we're going out to practise with our family. Outside of practice and meetings we're all hanging out together.

"So it's almost like we're all best friends."

Kent Austin is in his first season as head coach of the Riders but he's been to the big show on several occasions. The former quarterback was named MVP of Saskatchewan's last Grey Cup win in 1989. He also won with the Lions in 1994 and was offensive co-ordinator when Toronto won in 2004. He said there's no reason to be anxious.

"You don't have to be nervous when you're well prepared," Austin said. "And preparation didn't just happen this week. It started on Day 1 of training camp."

Austin's defence will be put to the test by Winnipeg's impressive receiving corps led by veteran Milt Stegall. Ryan Dinwiddie will make his first CFL start at quarterback and the speedy Charles Roberts anchors the Blue Bombers' running game.

Winnipeg was ranked second in passing and fifth in rushing this season. Austin said his defence won't be taking the Bombers' ground game lightly.

"If we don't stop the run, it'll be a long day for us," Austin said.

There were some nice moments after Saturday's practice when the Riders met several youngsters from Saskatchewan who are battling cancer. Matthew Epp, a 14-year-old from Fiske, Sask., was sporting a huge grin after Joseph and receiver Yo Murphy gave him their practice jerseys.

"I didn't think he was going to hand it to me, I just wanted a picture," Epp said. "But when he handed it to me it was even better."

Notes: Saskatchewan is just 2-13 in Grey Cup games. The Riders beat Hamilton 43-40 in 1989 and defeated Ottawa 29-14 in 1966.