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Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce throws at Friday's practice: Will he get the call Sunday? (JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA )

Buck Pierce isn't telling. Ditto for Steven Jyles. And while Paul LaPolice insists he does not play poker, it's now clear the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach would look comfy in a visor and dark shades clutching his spades and clubs, hearts and diamonds close to his chest.

Just for the record, the Bombers did not announce Friday who their starting quarterback would be for this weekend's annual Labour Day Classic in Regina.

And they won't be alerting the masses, either, upon the team's arrival in Saskatchewan Saturday -- although the decision will be made official to the QBs themselves well before kickoff.

"The quarterbacks will know (Saturday) morning. They just won't be allowed to talk to you guys... ever," said LaPolice with a grin. "I don't play poker. But we'll announce it when we have to.

"Most places I've been, and whether it's in the colleges or in the NFL, they wouldn't announce right up until game time. I think I'm right and it's what most coaches would do. It'll be a game-time announcement just to give Saskatchewan a little bit more to think about. They may not change their plan but that's our right."

Pierce and Jyles have been taking reps with the No. 1 offence this week, although Jyles may have had a bit more work -- unofficially -- as his QB compadre tested out a wonky left knee that has kept him out of four games and parts of two others.

Both had their moments Friday and while Pierce looked particularly sharp passing he hasn't truly pushed his knee or tested his mobility in practice.

And that was definitely the issue when Pierce rushed back from the injury but couldn't finish in the home loss to Hamilton last month.

"I feel a lot better," said Pierce. "It was a situation where I forced my hand a little bit and wanted to go out there and see if I could help our team a little bit. Obviously I couldn't do some of the things I needed to do to be effective.

"We got some positive things out of that experience. I don't think it set me back, but it showed you need a healthy guy out there.

"I've been in this situation a lot of times before... I've known or haven't known right up before game time. I've even had the media tell me I was starting and I didn't even know.

"It's one of those things. As a player it's something you deal with and you understand. You have to be mentally tough to play this game, especially this position."

Both Pierce and Jyles are 1-3 in games they've started for the Bombers and are second and third in the CFL in QB efficiency rating -- Pierce at 102.7, Jyles at 101.0 -- behind Montreal's Anthony Calvillo.

"We're both ready," Jyles said. "Buck is ready and he prepared hard. And I'm ready and I prepared hard. Regardless of what takes place, we'll be OK.

"This situation here... I want to play, but if Buck's the guy, he's the guy and I'll help him and support him and back him up."

Interestingly, the Bomber coaches have said in the past that because both pivots have similar styles the game plan doesn't change a whole lot with either at the controls.

So, given that, when he was asked what kind of competitive advantage keeping his starter secret might provide, LaPolice shrugged and then smiled.

"I'm sure coach (Ken) Miller is telling (the Riders) it doesn't matter who they play and they're going to line up and do what they do on defence, because we'd say the same thing ourselves," he said. "They're very similar quarterbacks. That's what we'd be telling them.

"Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe their coaches may have a different scheme for each guy. But you always want to try and get any advantage possible."

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Labour Day weekend. And let the gamesmanship begin.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

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Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 4, 2010 D1