Can the Saskatchewan Roughriders stay perfect Friday against the Calgary Stampeders?

Friday night's CFL clash between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders (9 p.m. Eastern, TSN/NBCSN) sets up as a duel between the CFL's two best teams thus far. Saskatchewan enters this one with a 5-0 record, and a dominant one, while the only blemish on Calgary's 4-1 record is a single road loss (to the Roughriders on July 5, by a score of 36-21). Both teams have impressed in a multitude of statistical categories and seem set for year-long success, but Friday's game may prove particularly crucial. If the Roughriders can keep rolling and improve to 6-0 with two head-to-head wins against the Stampeders, they'll be in excellent position to keep moving towards the West Division's top berth, but a Calgary win would put both teams at 5-1 and crack the West race wide open. It's quite possible this could be a high-powered shootout, as these teams enter with the league's top-ranked offences. Saskatchewan led the CFL with 36.6 points per game heading into this week's action, while Calgary was second with 32.4. The Riders and Stampeders were first and second respectively from a total yardage perspective, too, putting up 417.2 and 390.6 yards per game. However, they've achieved those totals a little differently. Saskatchewan's achieved a league-high 163.4 rushing yards per game thanks mostly to the outstanding play of Kory Sheets, who's helped them maintain a 5.8 yards per rush average (second-best in the league) despite running over 10 times more per game than an average CFL team in 2013. The Riders don't pass as much as a typical team, as their 136 passes attempted heading into this week are the league's lowest total, but when they do, they're highly effective: their average gain of 9.8 yards per pass was the league's best after six weeks of play, while their completion percentage of 66.9 per cent was third-best and their 267.4 yards per game was fourth-best. Darian Durant has been very efficient under centre, and while Drew Willy filled in well last week, Durant's return should strengthen the aerial game even further. Thus, the Saskatchewan attack is balanced from a yardage perspective, if less so from an attempts perspective.

The Stampeders have a strong ground game of their own with Jon Cornish, averaging 131.0 yards per game and 5.7 yards per rushing attempt (both third-best in the league) through six weeks. Their passing game has been a slightly bigger point of emphasis thus far, though. Calgary's 160 passes attempted are the third-lowest in the league, but they're significantly higher than Saskatchewan's (a difference of 24, or almost five passing plays per game). The Stamps' 73.8 per cent completion mark is second-best in the league and their 281.2 passing yards per game is third-best, while their 8.8 yards per pass are fourth-best. Thus, they take to the air a little more than the Riders, but are also still efficient while doing so. We'll see if that continues with Kevin Glenn at the controls instead of Drew Tate or Bo Levi Mitchell.

The defences shouldn't be written off either, though. Through six weeks, Saskatchewan led the league in points allowed per game (17.4) and rushing yards against per game (62.4), while Calgary was fourth and third in those categories with totals of 26.6 points allowed and 90.2 rushing yards allowed. The Stampeders also shine against the pass, allowing just a 62.0 per cent completion mark (second-best) through six weeks, just 6.9 yards per pass (tied for first) and 236.6 passing yards per game (third-best). The Riders are a little weaker overall, allowing a league-high 323.2 passing yards per game, but part of that's thanks to their offence; teams often fall behind against them and throw a lot more. Their 8.2 yards allowed per pass is quite respectable, and is fourth-best in the league. Thus, these are teams with good defences as well as high-powered offences. Whether this turns into a shootout or a defensive struggle, it should be hard-fought, and the result may have significant implications for the West Division's seedings fight.