Quarterback Drew Tate will get his third start straight for Calgary on Friday when the Stampeders visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

In his last two starts, Tate has completed 27 of 53 passes for 314 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception in a loss to the Montreal Alouettes and a win over the B.C. Lions.

Tate will start in place of Bo Levi Mitchell, who continues to deal with injuries to his knee and ankle.

With the Stampeders heading for a bye next week, there was some talk of resting Mitchell for one more week to give him a full month to recuperate.

But Hufnagel made it clear that Mitchell would start if he was healthy.

"I'm not quite sure I understand why people are saying that," Hufnagel said. "We have nothing accomplished yet. We haven't got a playoff spot yet. I would like to get home-field advantage. I would like to finish in first place."

Mitchell was also adamant that he would play if he could.

"It wasn't for the end of the season, but because you could give yourself a full month of recovery compared to two-and-a-half weeks," said Mitchell. "So there was a discussion about it but the coaches said 'hey, if you're healthy, we want you to play.'"