MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Defensive tackle Adriano Belli sincerely hopes the Hamilton Tiger-Cats make the CFL playoffs, just not on the Toronto Argonauts' watch.

The Argos (3-12) host their arch rivals at Rogers Centre on Friday night (7 p.m., ET) having been eliminated from post-season play for the second straight season. But Hamilton (6-9) remains very much in the thick of it, tied for second in the East Division standings with the suddenly resurgent Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Hamilton and Winnipeg are battling for much more than home-field advantage. Both trail the Edmonton Eskimos (7-8) in the crossover scenario. Should the fourth-place team in the West end the season with more points than the third-place squad in the East, the Western club will become the No. 3 seed in the Eastern playoffs.

The best way for Hamilton to secure its first playoff berth since '04 is to win its three remaining games - including a crucial showdown with Winnipeg in the final week of the regular season.

"I have a lot of friends on that team and a lot of guys that I hope make the playoffs but hopefully not on our clock and in our stadium," said Belli, a former Ticat. "We want to win the game, we're playing at home and we want to try to get (Ticats quarterback) Kevin Glenn on his ass as many times as possible and send them home worried about it next week."

While the Grey Cup is no longer on Toronto's radar screen, the Ballard Cup is. The trophy goes to the winner of the season series between the two teams, which the Argos lead 2-1. The Ticats claimed the honour last year for the first time since '01.

"If that's the prize for this game, then we want it," said Argos first-year head coach Bart Andrus. "I have every confidence that our guys will go in and play hard and compete.

"I can see it in their eyes. They want to win this football game."

Toronto has lost five straight and is a dismal 1-6 at home. Their last win at Rogers Centre was a 25-22 decision over Hamilton on Sept. 11.

The Ticats are also struggling, having dropped their last four games and five of their last six since beating Toronto 34-15 in the annual Labour Day clash.

In Sunday's 41-38 loss to Montreal, Glenn was a solid 29-of-45 passing for 505 yards and three touchdowns. Former Argo Arland Bruce III was his favourite target with nine catches for 155 yards and a score.

Glenn's performance was impressive considering Montreal's defence is the CFL's best, ranked first in 18 of 25 categories. Belli doesn't expect Glenn to be so prolific against the Argos.

"No. Our defence is much better than Montreal's defence," Belli said. "But nonetheless they played great and when Kevin Glenn is hot, he's hot."

Glenn said despite last week's loss, the Ticats took away a lot of positives from their performance against Montreal.

"We didn't get the win but we can carry a lot of stuff over to this game," Glenn said. "The cohesiveness we had, some plays the receivers were able to run and the blocking up front that we had.

"The big thing is we have to go in there and match their intensity. They're not the second-ranked defence in the league for nothing."

Despite his club's recent struggles, Ticats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille says what's most important is that his team's in control of its fate.

"The last message I gave the team (Thursday) morning was we still control our destiny," he said. "When we started this little journey back in training camp we wanted to be in this position at the end of the season where if we win we can have a home playoff game.

"Now we have to win some games, but it's the best position we can be in. We're not counting on anyone else to take care of our business so I'm excited for the opportunity."

So too is Bruce.

"Right now it's time to peak," said the dangerous slotback."It starts (Friday). Bring your 'A' game."

Bruce has certainly brought his 'A' game to Hamilton since Toronto dealt him July 29 after a publicized spat with Andrus. Bruce is ranked third in CFL receiving with 74 catches for 1,050 yards and eight touchdowns. By comparison, Chad Lucas is the Argos' receiving leader with 50 receptions for 708 yards and one TD grab.

This will mark Bruce's third game against his former team. In the two previous contests, he amassed 16 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown.

The flamboyant slotback says he has an end zone celebration planned if he scores against the Argos, but wouldn't divulge details. When he scored his first TD against his former team, Bruce celebrated by standing on one leg and spreading his arms wide while clutching the football.

"It's always special to put points up on the board," Bruce said. "That's what people want to see and that's what I want to bring."

NOTES - Toronto tailback Jamal Robertson and Hamilton rookie running back DeAndra' Cobb are both approaching milestones. Robertson needs just 11 yards to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing plateau while Cobb needs 100 yards to do so. That would give the CFL six 1,000-yard rushers this season, matching a league record. Edmonton's Arkee Whitlock and Saskatchewan's Wes Cates need 58 and 201 yards, respectively, to break 1,000, so that record could easily be broken.