WINNIPEG - There's no doubt Anthony Calvillo wants to play against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday, but whether he does will remain a mystery until game time.

The Montreal Alouettes' starting quarterback said Friday he'll only play if his sore calf is 100 per cent, and he wasn't sure if that's the case yet.

If Calvillo isn't ready to go, second-year pivot Adrian McPherson will make his first CFL regular-season start.

"Things have been getting a lot better with my calf, but I wanted to see how it was going to feel after this flight," Calvillo said after his team arrived in Winnipeg.

"We'll know more tonight and tomorrow to see if any swelling occurred, but right now it seems to be doing fine."

While the Alouettes (13-2) have clinched first place in the CFL East Division, the 16-year veteran doesn't want to rest. He'd rather take on the 6-9 Blue Bombers (TSN, 2:30 p.m. ET).

"I want to play," said Calvillo, who hurt his calf in last week's 41-38 win over Hamilton and was replaced by McPherson in the third quarter. "I just think everybody plays with bumps and bruises at this time of the year, and I just think it's unfair for anybody to just sit down, especially with three games to go, just because you got a little injury right now.

"I just want to make sure that I'm 100 per cent. I talked to the coaches about that."

Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman said Calvillo, 37, knows his own body and he'll listen to the league-leading pivot's opinion before a decision is made.

"We want him to play, I know he wants to play, but we're going to do the right thing with him," Trestman said.

"He's got to be 100 per cent for him to go (Saturday). We'll just see how he is early in the day."

Trestman believes McPherson, 26, can handle being in the spotlight from the first snap.

He completed 10 of 11 pass attempts for 110 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Tiger-Cats.

"We've got a lot of expectations for Adrian (but) he doesn't have to do it himself," Trestman said.

"He came in last week and he performed admirably. Everybody saw that. His teammates rallied around him, did a good job of protecting him and giving him an opportunity to make some plays."

McPherson was the New Orleans Saints' third-string QB in 2005 and also played in the Arena Football League.

"I feel ready," the Florida State product said.

"I think I'm two years in the offence being real familiar with the system and knowing what's going on around me helps out a lot, so I definitely know what's going on and I'm excited about the challenge."

If the Bombers face McPherson, it shouldn't be seen as a big break.

In Winnipeg's game against B.C. last weekend, Lions starter Buck Pierce was injured midway through the first quarter. Backup Travis Lulay rallied his team from a 14-0 deficit and came out with a 24-21 victory.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we did see (Calvillo) … " Bombers head coach Mike Kelly said. "But really we're more worried about ourselves than who's playing for them. We have to take care of our own business.

"Anthony, certainly I think, is a difference-maker in the league, but McPherson comes in and he presents a different challenge in that he can make plays with his feet more readily than Anthony can."

Kelly believes one of the key factors will be each team's offensive line. The clubs are tied for tops in the league, each giving up 25 sacks.

Bombers defensive back Jonathan Hefney said it doesn't matter to him which quarterback plays. It's important that they handle Montreal's talented receivers.

"We feel like we're the best secondary so we've got to go out there and prove to them just like they've got to prove to us," Hefney said.

Winnipeg quarterback Michael Bishop will have to improve last week's performance. He often overthrew his receivers, tossed three interceptions and fumbled once.

"If you live in the past, I feel you die in the past," Bishop said.

"Right now, we're looking forward. We've got a nice game plan, we've just got to go and execute it."

Winnipeg will field a familiar new face. Troy Westwood, 42, was signed this week and will punt against the Als.

"I feel back in the groove with this whole thing and look forward to (Saturday)," the 17-year veteran said.

Notes: Winnipeg linebacker Barrin Simpson will start in place of Joe Lobendahn (hamstring) … Montreal linebackers Diamond Ferri (stomach ailment) and LB Shea Emery (concussion) are out. Jon Banks will take one of their spots.