If practice makes perfect, the University of Regina Rams will be getting a chance to redeem their run defence Saturday afternoon against the University of British Thunderbirds.

The Rams lost to the University of Calgary Dinos 41-15 last week, after a week that saw the Rams attempt to deal with the death of rookie defensive lineman Spenser Borlase in a car crash after the game. The Rams record dropped to 1-2 and this week is crucial if the Rams are hoping to make the playoff race interesting in Canada West Football.

"All of these are important this weekend because you’ve got four teams with a 1-2 record playing and two 2-0 teams," said Rams Head Coach Frank McCrystal. "Games like these are more important because when you play an opponent twice, it’s more of a two game total points to determines who finishes ahead of who. But with one game against an opponent, if you beat them or they beat you and you’re tied after the season, that game is the tie-breaker.

"This game is important for us because of that and it is important for us after this week if we hope to be in one of the top four in Canada West. If we are 1-3, that makes it more difficult to move into the playoffs."

After an emotionally wrenching week for the Rams, who also had to contend with an appearance by TSN doing a feature on Rams quarterback Marc Mueller on the one year anniversary of the death of his grandfather Ron Lancaster, McCrystal is trying to take stock of his team as they prepare to leave for the west coast.

"I think we have regained our focus this week," said McCrystal. "In terms of practicality, and we’re not trying to rationalize here, but with Spenser’s tragedy, the appearance of TSN and the injuries, it seemed to have caught up with us at time.

"The score against Calgary wasn’t indicative of the game. We were in it until the middle of the fourth quarter and looking at the film we seemed to have more mental lapses than physical lapses. Calgary ran great against us, but I don’t think they physically pushed us around – we just need to do a better job correcting things on the sidelines."

McCrystal said the Ram lapses that allowed Dinos running back Matt Henry to run wild are correctable, and the test will come on the field Saturday.

"UBC have got a very good running back," said McCrystal. "They’ve also had a turnover of players and they try to do different things to get mismatches from personnel alignments.

"Their defence will do different things as well and we have to make sure our quarterback has enough time to recognize the different alignments and what they are doing and respond accordingly."

The Rams game is expected to be played in great weather and McCrystal is looking forward to return of several players from injuries for the game.

"Brandon Ganne is going to be back," said McCrystal. "Mike Pickens will be back and Kirby Kezama will be ready to go.

"Unfortunately Jason Price is lost for the season with an ACL injury. He came down the wrong way on his foot the last game. Devin Sakaluk will come in his place. Devin Hillier is gone but we’ve got Brenden Bennett back on the O-line."

Those wishing to listen to the game will have to go on-line to CKRM radio and listen there for the kick-off at 3 p.m.