Linebacker Maurice Lloyd, right, and his Saskatchewan Roughriders teammates could have their hands full containing B.C. Lions running back Joe Smith, whom CFL on CBC analyst Greg Frers says dictates the control of the game. (Troy Fleece/Canadian Press)

B.C. offence

Frers: I don't think you disrupt the football team [by starting veteran Dave Dickenson over Jarious Jackson]. Jarious was an effective quarterback and winning games [when Dickenson was sidelined three months with post-concussion syndrome]. The chemistry is there and the confidence in Jarious is there. The psyche of a football team is the most fragile component, so you try to maintain that. You stick with what got you there. B.C. is going to establish the run [with running back Joe Smith] and pound the ball. If Saskatchewan has success stopping him, the Lions have weapons to go to in the pass attack.

Impact player: Joe Smith. He really dictates the control of the football game. He hasn't had huge numbers against the Riders this season (averaging 67 yards per game) but effective numbers. If you have a solid running game you control the pace, you control the football game. If B.C. does maintain control, it will keep Saskatchewan from gaining any level of momentum.

Saskatchewan offence

Frers: With [running backs] Wes Cates and Corey Holmes hurting, it was [quarterback] Kerry Joseph running the ball against Calgary [in the West semifinal]. The key for B.C. will be to minimize the weapons Saskatchewan has on offence. If I'm the Lions defence, I want to take Kerry Joseph and [receivers] Andy Fantuz and D.J. Flick out of the game and force the Roughriders to beat me with [backup running back] Neal Hughes and [secondary] receivers Corey Grant and Yo Murphy. I'll take my chances.

Impact player: The offence starts and finishes with Kerry Joseph. And Andy Fantuz is playing a fantastic game, making catches in critical circumstances, so there is a good connection between the two. That's how you win football games.

B.C. defence

Frers: This unit is healthy, very talented and going against a very banged-up Saskatchewan Roughriders team that is playing really gritty football. The Lions defence is solid through and through. Saskatchewan's offensive line is very good and matches up well with the pressure of B.C., so it should be a good battle to watch. If the Lions linemen give [Riders quarterback] Kerry Joseph time, he's going to be able to make the downfield pass.

Impact player: The fact that not one person comes to mind is a strength for the B.C. Lions. If you try to double-team [end] Brent Johnson, [fellow end] Cameron Wake is pretty good, too. If you start messing with [tackles] Reggie Hunt and Tyrone Williams up the middle, [linebackers] Otis Floyd and Jamall Johnson will be flying around. [Defensive back] Ryan Phillips [who led the CFL with 12 interceptions this season] is a good cover guy as well.

Saskatchewan defence

Frers: Number one is to stop the run. Another key for Saskatchewan is getting pressure on [Lions quarterback] Jarious [Jackson]. You have to control first down and make it second-and-long, and then you can start blitzing and helping out a weaker secondary. You don't want the play going for four seconds. You want three seconds or less.

Impact player: I thought [defensive back] Eddie Davis played extremely well in the West semifinal [with two defensive tackles and one interception]. He's playing well now.

B.C. special teams

Frers: [Kick-returner] Ian Smart accumulated yards this season methodically. His averages are fantastic - 23.2 yards on kickoffs and 9.9 yards on punts - and that's what makes him good. If you're starting with the ball at midfield on a regular basis, there's a good chance you're going to score at least a field goal. Paul McCallum is one of the few kickers who had a decent year (81.4 per cent field-goal efficiency). If you get the ball between 30 and 35 yards out, he's been accurate from that distance this season.

Impact player: Ian Smart. In tight games with a struggling offence he's really given the offence an opportunity to score.

Saskatchewan special teams

Frers: [Kicker] Luca Congi has done well [tying a league playoff record] with six field goals in the West semifinal. The problem for the Roughriders is [running back/kick-returner] Corey Holmes. He's really banged up [with a sore shoulder] and I'm not sure what they'll do for the return game. If they want him to focus primarily on running out of the backfield, who else could they use to return kicks? Maybe Kahlil Hill.

Impact player: [Six-foot, 240-pound] linebacker Kitwana Jones has been a beast.

What are the keys to victory for the Lions?

Frers: To control the game because they've done it all season long. My most outstanding player in the league this year is [running back] Joe Smith. You're not going to win the game on [quarterback] Jarious Jackson's arm, even though that's what Saskatchewan is going to want. If effective on first down, Smith can dictate the game.

What are the keys to victory for the Roughriders?

Frers: From a defensive standpoint, stop the run on first down and force B.C. into second-and-long. If the yards are there to run, [quarterback] Kerry Joseph has to take it because the Roughriders have fewer weapons with all their injuries.

Prediction:

Frers: Saskatchewan is a prime example of execution of team football. They're playing really gritty football. Because they're banged up, the cards are stacked against the Roughriders. My pick would be B.C., based on the numbers and health for that team. No slight on Saskatchewan. They're grinding it out and playing above themselves.