MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Once again Kerry Joseph will start at quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts and once again he can expect to be looking over his shoulder to see if backup Michael Bishop is trotting in.

Joseph will be under centre when the Argos (1-0) host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1) on Thursday night (TSN, 7 p.m. ET). But Toronto head coach Rich Stubler won’t hesitate to give Bishop some playing time as well.

“I hope so,” Stubler said when asked if both quarterbacks will take reps against the Ticats.

Stubler got both quarterbacks into last week’s 23-16 road win over Winnipeg, with Joseph getting the start. Despite the win, though, neither player was overly impressive.

Joseph was 9-of-17 passing for 73 yards while Bishop finished 6-of-14 for 111 yards and a TD strike. Joseph, who ran for more than 700 yards last season in capturing the CFL’s outstanding player award with Saskatchewan, rushed for three yards on two carries while Bishop had 27 yards on two carries.

Neither Joseph nor Bishop was willing to talk about being platooned, a clear sign that both aren’t exactly enamoured about it. But Stubler doesn’t see the situation evolving into a quarterback controversy.

“Everybody seems to think I have a magic formula for this stuff,” he said. “I keep telling people I do it by feel and it’s not a controversy unless the press decides to make it one.

“Since I don’t read the paper I guess it isn’t a controversy. As long as we score enough points to win football games and control the football, I’m good.”

Elsewhere this week, the Calgary Stampeders will look to improve to 2-0 when they travel to Edmonton to face the Eskimos on Thursday night (TSN, 10 p.m. ET).

The Montreal Alouettes (1-0) host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-1) on Friday night (TSN, 7 p.m. ET) while the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-0) face the B.C. Lions (0-1) at B.C. Place (TSN, 10 p.m. ET). Stubler’s decision to play both quarterbacks is an attempt to give opposing defensive co-ordinators more to prepare for, feeling Joseph and Bishop bring different qualities to the field. But Hamilton coach Charlie Taaffe disagrees.

“To me, they’re both the same type of quarterback,” he said. “They’re both big, strong guys who are extremely mobile and athletic and both have cannons.

“If we’re preparing for a true dropback-type guy that’s not a threat as a runner and Kerry or Michael, then it would be a little bit different. But in my opinion they’re both the same style of quarterback and both very effective.”

Neither Joseph nor Bishop would address Toronto’s quarterback situation but Joseph says he won’t feel any extra pressure to perform knowing Bishop is waiting in the wings.

“I just want to go out there and be myself and do the things I do well … and play the game the way I can play,” he said. “That’s all I can do.

“The thing I’ve focused on this week is just going out there and doing the things I do well.”

Hamilton starter Casey Printers certainly has Stubler’s attention. The ‘04 CFL outstanding player was one of the Ticats’ few bright spots offensively in the club’s 33-10 loss to Montreal. Printers was 15-of-21 passing for 203 yards before giving way to Richie Williams.

“I like his abilities, I like his fire, I like everything about him,” Stubler said of Printers. “And I like Richie Williams.

“Both of those guys are pretty good.”

Printers said Hamilton’s offence played better against Montreal than the score indicates.

“We threw the ball for 70 per cent, we had a 10.1-yard rushing average per run and that’s pretty good,” he said. “Obviously we can’t turn the ball over like we did but I don’t see our offence being that far off from being very competitive and putting up a lot of good points.”

Hamilton cornerback Lawrence Gordon had a tough game against Montreal, giving up both of Kerry Watkins’ touchdown grabs as well as being flagged for interference. Taaffe fully expects the Argos to go after Gordon.

“I’d say he’s going to go out there with a big bulls eye on him,” Taaffe said of Gordon. “Those guys (Joseph and Bishop) are going to throw the ball downfield anyway.

“They both have tremendously strong arms.”

But Stubler downplayed the notion that the Argos receivers are looking forward to facing Hamilton’s secondary, especially after being asked whether Toronto pass catchers were “licking their chops” about tomorrow’s game.

“I didn’t know we put up 600 yards last week,” Stubler said sarcastically. “So probably not.”

Stampeders at Eskimos

At Edmonton, the Stampeders look to maintain their offensive excellence. In last week’s 28-18 win over B.C., Calgary quarterback Henry Burris threw two TD passes and ran for another while running back Joffrey Reynolds rushed for 125 yards on 23 carries. The Eskimos opened their season with a disappointing 34-13 loss to Saskatchewan but the Riders took control of that game with 18 points in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Ricky Ray was 25-of-37 passing for 249 yards and an interception. The Eskimos will be without starting offensive lineman Dan Comiskey, who suffered a hairline fracture in his ankle last weekend against the Riders. The 36-year-old veteran was placed on the nine-game injured list Wednesday.

Blue Bombers at Alouettes

At Montreal, head coach Marc Trestman will make his home debut after winning his first CFL regular-season game last week in Hamilton. Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo moved past the retired Danny McManus into second on the CFL’s all-time career passing list in completing 25-of-37 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns against the Ticats. Winnipeg opened its season with a disappointing 23-16 home loss to Toronto. Quarterback Kevin Glenn had 321 yards passing but also surrendered three picks.

Roughriders at Lions

At B.C., the Lions look to prevent opening the season 0-2 after losing just three times in 2007. Quarterbacks Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson were a combined 17-of-32 passing for 255 yards and two TDs in last week’s loss to Calgary. Running back Joe Smith, the CFL’s leading rusher last season, had 54 yards on 11 carries. Marcus Crandell replaced the departed Joseph at quarterback for Saskatchewan and was 19-of-29 passing for 278 yards and two touchdowns against Edmonton.