The Regina Riot will have a long road march again this year if they hope to make it to the league final.

The Western Women’s Canadian Football League Playoffs open this weekend, with the Riot in Winnipeg to take on the Manitoba Fearless.

The two teams clashed in 2019, as the Riot won their way into the league final against Saskatoon.

“Sure, it’d be great to follow the same path as in 2019,” says Riot Head Coach Kris Hadesbeck. “However, we’re a very different football team now, as quite a few of our veteran players stepped away from the game during the pandemic. The Fearless are a different team as well. So, while it makes for an interesting comparison, the 2022 playoffs are a completely different scenario. One thing remains the same: we know we’ll have to be at our absolute best to leave Winnipeg with a victory this weekend.”

Game time tomorrow in Winnipeg is Noon our time.

Sunday’s winner will take on the top remaining seed from the western (i.e., Alberta) conference next week in the league semi-finals. The WWCFL championship game will be played June 25 in Saskatoon.