ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Having a quarterback that can win games is more important to the B.C. Lions than losing with a confirmed No. 1.

With Dave Dickenson no longer in the mix, Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson are battling for the starting quarterback job at this year’s training camp.

Both men proved themselves as winners stepping in for the oft-injured Dickenson the last couple of seasons. Both have a similar style, understand the Lions system, and are capable of making the big play.

For the sake of pride, and maybe future contract talks, both want to leave camp first on the depth chart. But even Wally Buono, the Lions coach and general manager, says it might not really matter which quarterback is named No. 1.

“It’s not something we are going to be overly concerned about,” Buono said Wednesday after the team practised in a steady rain that forced cancellation of an afternoon session.

“The biggest concern I have is the quarterback comfortable with the offence? Can the quarterback execute your offence and can you win with them? Who the starting guy is, is not all that important if you can’t win with him. If it takes two to win, then so be it.”

Jackson was a big reason the Lions finished 14-3-1 and first in the CFL West last season. The six-foot-one, 232-pound Notre Dame product went 9-2 as a starter after both Dickenson and Pierce were injured.

Jackson threw for 2,553 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and was rewarded with a new contract for two years plus an option worth around $200,000 a season.

Pierce, a six-foot, 215-pounder from New Mexico State, looked to be the heir apparent to Dickenson after a strong 2006 season. He missed 10 games last year with a third-degree separation of his right throwing shoulder, plus toe, hand and rib injuries.

He still managed to throw for 1,013 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.

The emergence of the two quarterbacks resulted in the veteran Dickenson being released at the end of last season. He has since signed as a backup in Calgary.

Pierce and Jackson say finding themselves competing for the same job with the Lions is nothing new.

“Me and Jarious have been battling for the last three camps,” Pierce said with a laugh. “We like the competition we bring each other.

“We study film together, we go over stuff together. We like to work together. Now we’re just trying to improve our offence and not think a whole lot about what the other guy does on the field. We’re just trying to get ourselves better.”

Jackson didn’t prepare any different for this year’s camp.

“The only thing that has changed is one of us is going to get the opportunity to play earlier,” he said. “I come in and do my best and try and be the starter regardless if I’m slotted in at No. 3, No. 2 or No. 1.”

Both quarterbacks say the team will need a good backup if the Lions hope to reach the Grey Cup this season.

“In this league one quarterback is not enough any more,” said Jackson. “Due to just how big, fast and strong defences are these days, they are bruising us (quarterbacks) up.

“Sometimes you have to sit out a game or two or sometimes you have to sit out nine.”

Pierce said the Lions’ depth at quarterback has kept the team competitive the last few seasons.

“Our No. 2 is as good as a lot of No. 1’s,” he said. “We’re a talent group here.”

Of the two, Pierce may be the less flashy on the field. His strength is managing a game.

“I’m not a guy that is going to throw the ball 100 yards down the field for huge plays, but I make the plays when they are there,” he said. “I understand what we are trying to do.

“I feel like that brings a sense of confidence to the coaching staff that this guy is going to go out there and he’s going to give you the same thing week in and week out.”

The biggest difference between the two men could be age. Pierce, 26, is five years younger than Jackson.

Buono said the players’ birth certificates won’t be a factor.

“Jarious is a young whatever,” he said. “The big thing right now is how you are going to win in 2008. We’re not trying to … develop somebody for three years down the road. Our focus is to win today and not three years from today.”

Dan Dorazio, the Lions offence co-ordinator, said so far there’s been little to choose between the two at camp.

“Both guys are able to make plays on their own,” he said. “I’ve seen a couple of times where the play has broken down and they just jump out there and go make a play on their own.

“Both have that ability. They’ve shown it in games and done it before.”