Youngster Reaves gets first CFL start when Argos face Alouettes on Saturday

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Stephen Reaves couldn't have picked a more difficult test for his first CFL start.

The rookie left-hander will be under centre Saturday when the Toronto Argonauts host the Montreal Alouettes (TSN, 1 p.m. ET) in the regular-season finale for both teams. Not only will Reaves be auditioning for a job next season with the Double Blue, but will do so against a defence that's the CFL's best and ranked first in 20 of the league's 25 defensive categories.

But the former Southern Miss star - who has the same alma mater as NFL star Brett Favre - is unfazed.

"Yeah, Montreal does have a good defence," said Reaves. "But I haven't really looked at it like that.

"Really, it's what we do. I think if we go out there and move the ball well, get completions and try to put some points on the board early I think we got a good shot against them or any other defence we play against."

On paper, that would seem like a tall order.

Montreal is allowing just 18.1 points against per game and is ranked first against both the pass (248 yards per game) and rush (79.5 yards). Toronto counters with an offence that's ranked last in points scored (18.3 per game), yards rushing (87.4) and total yards (290) and seventh in passing (230.5).

The Argos have also allowed a league-high 52 sacks, not a good thing against a Montreal defence that's second overall in sacks recorded (39).

"That will tell us," Argos head coach Bart Andrus said. "Obviously a quarterback needs to be protected and we're up for that.

"We've designed things around the fact we can help the guys up front with our backs and changing the protections and mixing it up. I think this will be a great test for him and I think if you look at his career along the way in college he was able to perform at a pretty high level."

The Argos do have a few factors working in their favour.

First, the game means nothing to Montreal (14-3), which has already cemented top spot in the East and the right to host the conference final Nov. 22. Also, quarterback Anthony Calvillo - the CFL's outstanding player last year and the club's nominee for the honour this season - made the trip but won't play. Backup Adrian McPherson will start, with rookie Chris Leak serving as the No. 2 quarterback.

The Argos (3-14) will miss the CFL playoffs for the second straight year and their players are auditioning for jobs next year. But in Andrus's mind, a Toronto win would be a fitting reward as the club has deemed the contest Fan Appreciation Day and also has a promotion where fans can bring their dog to the game and watch from a designated area.

"I think it would be great for our players and fans," Andrus said. "Delivering a win at home in the last game of the season would be something that would enjoyable for us to be able to give to our fans, particularly on Fan Appreciation Day.

"Not to mention the dogs."

Reaves took over for veteran Kerry Joseph in the first half of last week's 36-10 road loss in Edmonton. He looked sharp in guiding Toronto to a touchdown on his first drive, which he capped with a one-yard scoring strike to Chad Lucas.

But Reaves threw two third-quarter interceptions - one which was returned for a touchdown. He left the game shortly afterwards when rocked by an Edmonton defender during the return of his second pick to finish 10-of-16 passing for 122 yards.

"It's always different when you go through the whole year and you're practising at a certain speed, a certain tempo and you get out there and everybody is going full speed," he said. "That's one of the main things you witness right away.

"That's something you adapt to as the game goes along and I felt like I did that."

Andrus is anxious to see how Reaves adapts to being the starter.

"A quarterback coming off the bench that's a different thing than a quarterback that starts a game," Andrus said. "The pressure is different and a guy coming off the bench is playing with house money.

"It was important for us to see him in a starting role and see how he handles it. There's no doubt in my mind he will handle it pretty well."

Montreal coach Marc Trestman downplayed the notion of the game having no meaning to his team.

"This isn't a meaningless game to us," he said. We want them (Als players) to play with the passion and sense of urgency we would expect.

"A loss is an unimportant issue. We'll find out, with the environment different and outside forces being different, whether they can play hard, fast and with a sense of urgency. When it's over we'll worry about the next one."

Trestman said the decision to play McPherson comes down to "common sense," adding he wants McPherson to play in a dome, since the division final will be at Olympic Stadium which is also a domed stadium.

"He might have to play one of the next two games," Trestman said. "We hope he doesn't but, if he does, he needs more work."