Glenn Howard, left, and Kevin Martin are ready to renew their friendly rivalry in Winnipeg. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Experience, they say, is everything.

They, of course, like to exaggerate, but a little veteran know-how usually goes a long way at the Brier. The 2008 edition of the Canadian men's curling championship, which gets underway Saturday at Winnipeg's MTS Centre, promises to be no different.

The 12 skips in this year's field boast a combined 30 Brier appearances — and that doesn't even take into account the trips many made as underlings earlier in their careers. Even the two rookies — Northern Ontario's Eric Harnden and B.C.'s Bob Ursel – have appeared twice each with other skips.

"Experience helps a lot," says CBC curling analyst Mike Harris, who will be on the broadcast team for the semifinal on March 15 and the final on March 16. "It doesn't necessarily give you a really good chance of winning, but it helps to have been through a Brier and to know how to play on Brier ice.

"Most of the skips here have been through it at least once, and once you've done that you have a really good chance of winning your share."

What makes this battle-hardened crop even more compelling is that many of the skips didn't gather their experience as mere also-rans.

Defending champion Glenn Howard of Ontario has reached the final in each of his two Brier appearances; Alberta's Kevin Martin boasts a pair of titles among his nine showings; hometown favourite Kerry Burtnyk owns two championships of his own (the first in 1981!); Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue is coming off his first foray to the final; even relative unknown Jean-Michel Menard of Quebec has made two finals in two trips, including a win over Howard to capture the 2006 crown.

"This field is really good. I think it's the strongest we've seen in seven or eight years," Harris says. "There are probably only two or three teams that you can let your guard down against. Usually there's five or six."

"You have to be careful with all these teams. They've all beaten one of the big guys at one time or another."

Here's a look at how the entire field stacks up, along with each skip's experience level and Harris's take on all 12 rinks:

THE FAVOURITES

Ontario
Players: Glenn Howard, Richard Hart, Brent Laing, Craig Savill
Club: Coldwater (Ont.) & District Curling Club
Experience: Third appearance (2006 finalist, '07 champion)

Howard laid waste to the field last year in Hamilton, with his only hiccups coming against Martin in the round-robin and Gushue in the 1-2 Page playoff. Howard avenged the latter setback by handling the young Newfoundlander 10-6 in the final to capture his first Brier as a skip (he won twice as the third for legendary older brother Russ).

The reigning world champion is enjoying another fine season in 2007-08. Howard sits second on the World Curling Tour money list, and he stopped Martin's streak of five straight Grand Slam titles by winning the Masters in late January. But the Coldwater, Ont., skip isn't exactly coming into the Brier red-hot: his road through the Ontario playdowns — where he beat Harris's rink in the semifinal — was a bit rougher than expected, and he blew a late lead against Martin in the playoffs of last weekend's Canada Cup.

Harris: "Their confidence may not be as high as it could be, but they're experienced enough to not worry too much about it.

"Last year they went into the Brier looking invincible. I don't think they even had a game go to 10 ends in the provincials, and they continued to roll in the Brier round-robin. This year, they lost two or three games you wouldn't expect them to lose in the provincials and the Canada Cup. So if last year they were 100 per cent confident, this year they're maybe 95 per cent. But that's still good enough to beat most of the teams in the field."

Alberta
Players: Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert
Club: Saville Sports Centre (Edmonton)
Experience: Ninth appearance (1991 champion, '92, '95, '96 finalist, '97 champion, 2000, '06, '07)

When Martin hits the ice in Winnipeg, it'll be his third straight Brier appearance and ninth overall as a skip, tying him with Northern Ontario's Al Hackner for second all-time behind Russ Howard's 13.

Martin, the WCT money leader by a wide margin, will have to overcome an injury to a key player if he hopes to add to his two Canadian titles. Third Morris broke the pinkie on his throwing hand during an altercation at a bar in Airdrie, Alta., following the team's victory in the provincial playdowns.

A known fitness buff, Morris has bounced back from more serious runs-ins — after getting hit by a car just before last year's Brier, he shook off a concussion, cuts and bruises to help his team into the playoffs — but if the third isn't 100 per cent, it could give rival Howard the opening he needs.

Harris: "I would give Howard a slight edge because he's been in the last two finals, and because of Morris's broken finger. You just don't know how well John is going to play with his injury. It could be a huge deal if his hand isn't as good as he thinks it is. He claims he's able to throw fairly cleanly, but his sweeping admittedly isn't quite there."

PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

Manitoba
Players: Kerry Burtnyk, Dan Kammerlock, Richard Daneault, Rob Meakin
Club: Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club (Winnipeg)
Experience: Fifth appearance (1981 champion, '88, '95 champion, 2001 finalist)

Burtnyk, 49, could be the feel-good story of the tournament. The 49-year-old Winnipegger will be playing in his hometown for the first time as he tries for his third title. The MTS Centre crowd will no doubt be behind the man who still holds the record for youngest skip to capture a Brier (Burtnyk was 22 when he won in Halifax in 1981) as he tries to become just the fifth skip to win in his own backyard.

Burtnyk may not disappoint: his rink — including young third Kammerlock, whose father, Ron, was the lead on the 1981 team — has risen to fourth on the money list. Don't be surprised if they add to Manitoba's record 26 Brier championships.

Winnipeg's Kerry Burtnyk can count on strong support from the hometown crowd. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Harris: "They've had a great year. They've moved way up the Canadian Team Ranking System list,. Kerry is a pretty clutch player, so I expect him to perform well at home."

Newfoundland & Labrador
Players: Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Chris Schille, Dave Noftall
Club: Bally Haly Golf & Curling Club (St. John's)
Experience: Fifth appearance (2003, '04, '05, '07 finalist)

Gushue enjoyed his finest Brier run last year, going 8-3 in the round-robin before stunning Howard in the 1-2 playoff to reach his first final. But Gushue couldn't finish the job, losing the rematch with Howard by a convincing score after hanging tough for most of the game.

Gushue and rock-solid third Nichol will try to take the final step with a new lead, as Noftall has replaced Jamie Korab, a member of Gushue's 2006 Olympic champion rink. This a year after current second Schille came in for Mike Adam.

Harris: "Gushue has kind of got a revolving door on the front end these days. He's made a lot of changes over the last two years. That's a big deal at this level. Shotmaking is one thing, but it seems like something is missing in things like sweeping and communication and the dynamic within the team.

"Having said that, they won their pool at the Canada Cup last week. They beat Glenn Howard in the round-robin, and almost beat [eventual champion] Kevin Koe in the 1-1 Page playoff. They're peaking at the right time.

"Their back end of Brad and Mark is as good as anyone's talent-wise, so they're going to win their fair share of games just based on that. If they just keep it simple strategically, they'll have a really good chance of getting through the playoffs. Every year they seem to get a little bit better."

Saskatchewan
Players: Pat Simmons, Jeff Sharp, Gerry Adam, Steve Laycock
Club: Davidson (Sask.) Curling Club
Experience: Fourth appearance (2005, '06, '07)

In his fourth consecutive year representing Saskatchewan, is Simmons ready to make The Leap? Last year's showing was encouraging, as the Davidson, Sask., skip went 7-4 and barely missed qualifying for the playoffs for the first time. Simmons is having another strong season, sitting eighth on the money list.

Harris: "Pat has had high expectations the past two years and hasn't made the playoffs. It's time for him to step up a little bit, I think. They play enough and they're experienced enough, so there's no reason to think they can't.

"If the ice conditions are a little straighter, that would work to Pat's advantage. They're a better hitting team than most of the other guys, but maybe a little less comfortable on the big-swing ice."

THE DARKHORSES

Quebec
Players: Jean-Michel Menard, Martin Crete, Eric Sylvain, Jean Gagnon
Club: Etchemin/Victoria Curling Club (Ste-Foy and Ste-Romuald, Que.)
Experience: Third appearance (2005 finalist, '06 champion)

The underrated Menard is nothing if not opportunistic. Though he's only appeared in two Briers, the Quebec skip has made the most of his chances, reaching the playoffs both times. In 2005 he fell in the 3-4 game to Nova Scotia's Shawn Adams, then returned the following year to shock Glenn Howard in the final.

Quebec's Jean-Michel Menard has a title and a playoff appearance in two Brier appearances. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Menard will try to make it 3-for-3 on playoff appearances with a new third in Crete, who replaces Francois Roberge, and a new lead in Gagnon, who's in for Maxime Elmaleh.

Harris: "I haven't seen this team perform as consistently as Menard's old team did, but to win Quebec nowadays is pretty tough. Jean-Michel knows how to win games. They have to prove themselves a bit, but there's no reason to think they can't win their share."

British Columbia
Players: Bob Ursel (3rd rocks), Jim Cotter (4th rocks), Kevin Folk, Rick Sawatsky
Club: Kelowna (B.C.) Curling Club
Experience: Rookie

Ursel has no Brier experience as a skip, but he played under the bright lights with Bert Gretzinger in 1999 and Pat Ryan in 2002. Ursel hopes a return to his birthplace of Winnipeg, where he won the 1984 Canadian juniors and 1985 world juniors, can give him a boost.

Harris: "They don't play the really big events like most of the top teams do, but they've won a few cash spiels this year and they've played a couple of the Slams. If you don't show up to play these guys, they'll beat you."

THE REST

New Brunswick
Players: James Grattan, Mike Kennedy, Jason Vaughan, Peter Case
Club: Gage Golf & Curling Club (Oromocto, N.B.)
Experience: Third appearance (1997, 2006)

He's a relative unknown, but Grattan finished an impressive third in 1997 before going 5-6 in 2006. The skip from Oromocto, N.B., also has three additional appearances under his belt from his days playing under Russ Howard.

Harris: "This is a team you have to show up against, or they'll make you pay for it. Grattan has had a few good runs at Briers, but hasn't been able to finish it off. His team is the best of the rest."

Northern Ontario
Players: Eric Harnden, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden, Caleb Flaxey
Club: Soo Curlers Association (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.)
Experience: Rookie

Looking for another feel-good story? Harnden, 52, is making his skip debut with two of his sons – third E.J., 24, and second Ryan, 21 – and a family friend in 24-year-old lead Flaxey. It'll be the elder Harnden's third trip to the Brier: he played for Jack MacFarlane in 1983, and for his brother Al Harnden in 1990, where the siblings finished third in their hometown of Sault Ste. Marie.

Harris: "Harnden is going to have a good time playing with his sons, but his prime years were a long time ago. I don't imagine they'll be much of a threat, but it's nice to see the father-son combo."

Nova Scotia
Players: Brian Rafuse, Curt Palmer, Alan Darragh, Dave Slauenwhite
Club: Bridgewater (N.S.) Curling Club
Experience: Second appearance (1996)

Rafuse isn't expected to do much damage at the Brier, but he won't have to wait long for another crack at a national title: the 52-year-old will also represent Nova Scotia at the Canadian senior championships beginning March 22 in Prince Albert, Sask.

The first skip to win the Nova Scotia men's and senior men's titles in the same year, Rafuse is joined by Darragh, who at 57 will be the oldest player at this year's Brier. The veteran second has four appearances to his name, dating as far back as 1978.

Harris: "They're in for a long week. As the tournament wears on, fatigue could be an issue for them. But they beat Shawn Adams in the final of the Nova Scotia playdowns, and I expect them to pull off one or two upsets.

Prince Edward Island
Players: Peter Gallant, Kevin Champion, Mark O'Rourke, John Desrosiers
Club: Charlottetown Curling Club
Experience: Third appearance (1997, 2007)

Gallant, 49, has been to eight Briers, including his skip debut in 1997, when he threw third stones with Robert Campbell. Last year Gallant assumed the full skip duties and went 4-7.

Harris: "I don't expect them to win too many games, but they've got lots of experience so they'll be grinding and staying in most games. I would expect a couple upsets from them during the week."

Yukon & Northwest Territories
Players: Chad Cowan, Wade Scoffin, James Buyck, Clint Ireland
Club: Whitehorse Curling Club
Experience: Third appearance (2000, '03)

Cowan went 3-8 in both 2000 and 2003, but among those six wins were impressive upsets of Gushue and Russ Howard.

Harris: "It was a big surprise that Jamie Koe's rink didn't win the Territories. Expect Cowan to win one or two games."

[an error occurred while processing this directive]