It was in last year's West Division final. Wake, the CFL's top rookie and defensive player, sacked Joseph, then with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, five times.

However, Joseph still threw two touchdown passes to lead Saskatchewan to the 26-19 upset win over B.C. en route to leading the Riders to the '07 Grey Cup championship.

After backing up Cody Pickett the last two weeks, Joseph returns under centre when the Toronto Argonauts host the Lions at Rogers Centre on Friday night (7 p.m. ET). And he will face a B.C. defence that's tops in the CFL in sacks recorded (52), with Wake leading the way with 18.

"We respect them but we don't fear them," said Joseph. "At the end of the day what matters is that we have one more point than they do.

"Those guys aren't Superman, they're human so we have to play the game, too. We're going to come out and play with some intensity."

But Joseph and the Argos have to be wary of the Lions (8-5), who recorded 10 sacks in last week's 40-10 win over Hamilton. B.C. has also won four straight games to move to within two points of first- place Calgary (9-4) in the West Division.

Toronto (4-9), on the other hand, has lost four straight to drop into third in the East Division, two points behind second-place Winnipeg (5-9). With the very real prospect of the fourth-place team in the West crossing over to assume the No. 3 playoff seed in the East, both the Bombers' and Argos' post-season hopes depend on finishing second in the division standings.

Playing Joseph against B.C. instead of Pickett seems a no-brainer given Joseph is clearly the more mobile of the two. That's an important factor when facing an athletic Lions defensive front that's very good at putting pressure on the quarterback.

But Argos head coach Don Matthews said that wasn't why he made the change. Instead, he's looking for either Pickett or Joseph to take ownership of the starting job.

"To be honest, we're in a dilemma at quarterback," he said. "We don't really have a solid answer one way or the other.

"So we're looking, as I told Kerry, for someone to hit one out of the park."

A strong, consistent rushing attack would certainly help Joseph's cause for two reasons. First, it would force the Lions to respect the run and not always bring pressure. Also, Toronto could use more of its playbook to convert second-and-short situations than it would facing a steady diet of long passing downs.

"If you get the ground game going, they have to respect the backs," said Argos running back Jamal Robertson, who will start against B.C. "The linebackers just can't get out of there like they want to and help cover the receivers, so now they have to stay a little closer.

"That then gives you a chance to open up routes behind them."

That could be easier said than done. Toronto is ranked last in the CFL in scoring (19 points per game), total yards (326) and rushing yards (85 yards) and sixth in passing (268 yards).

The Argos have also given up 30 sacks (second-most in the CFL) although the offensive line will be bolstered by the return of veteran Jude St. John.

Still, Lions coach Wally Buono has a healthy respect for Joseph.

"Kerry Joseph is a competitor and the No. 1 thing on his mind is going to be to make sure he beats us," Buono said. "You know on second-down- and-eight he's not going to be running seven yards and then hook- sliding.

"The mentality has changed right now. Now, it's not a matter of getting through the season, it's a matter of survival. To Kerry Joseph, this is a playoff game."

Joseph and the Argos offence will face a B.C. defence that's not only ranked first in sacks, but also tops in interceptions (22) and fewest yards allowed (344 per game).

The problem B.C. presents is Wake isn't the only bona fide pass rusher. Fellow end Brent Johnson is second overall in the CFL with nine, followed by tackle Aaron Hunt with eight. Tackle Tyrone Williams only has one sack but was a league all-star last season.

"We laugh at it sometimes because, pick your poison," Wake said. "If you were an offensive co-ordinator, who would you double?

"It's not like you can pick one guy and eliminate him and there goes your D-line. We have so many playmakers on that line."

Barring injury, Wake would appear a virtual lock to repeat as the CFL's outstanding defensive player. And if he breaks the single-season sack record of 26.5 held by former Lion James (Quick) Parker, Wake will likely gain consideration for the league's outstanding player award.

Wake's tremendous success in the CFL - he had a league-high 16 sacks last year - has many believing he will be plying his trade south of the border next season. But such talk, as well as that of individual post-season accolades, aren't what drive him.

"To be honest, I haven't thought about the (sacks) record that much," he said. "If it comes, it comes.

"Right now the goal is to win games and I'm looking for a (Grey Cup) ring. I missed out in 2006 and I think we should've had it last year. The Grey Cup, that's the goal not the sacks record."

And Johnson says Wake's not kidding.

"This guy is legitimately the most unselfish player I've been around that has this type of ability," said Johnson. "When you get something like that it's hard not to like, it's hard not to like Cameron.

"He's a great teammate and does everything we ask him to do. Whenever he's not in plays it's because we're taking advantage of him to get other players freed up. That's what people don't know about Cam Wake."

The Canadian Press, 2008