For the first time in 17 years, Manitoba and Regina will duel in the playoffs, with a spot in the Hardy Cup on the line.

The Herd are 3-1 in their playoff history against the Rams, winning the last three in a row, including the team's most recent matchup, the 2007 Canada West final hosted by the Bisons. Manitoba led from the start in a 48-5 pummeling of Regina that day, winning their first Vanier Cup in over three decades two weeks later.

Manitoba's looking for similiar success in 2024, when they welcome Regina to Princess Auto for the second time this season. The No. 7 nationally ranked Bisons, who finished 7-1 in the regular season (earning first place in the conference for the first time since 2007), knocked off the Rams 22-13 in week five at home, and have won their last four games in a row against the prairie rival.

The run game will certainly be a factor for both teams.

The Herd led the nation, rushing for 2,016 yards on the season, with 217 of those yards coming in the team's nine-point win over the U of R. Breydon Stubbs, who finished second in the country with 936 rushing yards, and a school record 14 touchdowns, contributed 121 yards and a score, while quarterback Jackson Tachinski -- who recorded a career-high 570 rushing yards on the year --- added 31 and a major. He also threw for 224 yards with a score.

On the other side, Rams running back Christian Katende is coming off a career day.

In a 29-22 comeback win over Alberta to get into the playoffs last week, Katende carried the rock 26 times for 228 yards with two scores. It was the third-most rushing yards in a game in Rams history and the highest in the past 20 years.

Katende's performance was fascinating. Prior to his breakout game, he'd ran the ball just ten times for 52 yards on the year.

Defensively, Manitoba forced five turnovers the last time the two sides met, and that could be the difference on Saturday. Included in that total were three stops on third down, while linebacker Dario Macchia recorded his first career interception.