By Jonathan Anderson
Stampeders.com

Joining the Calgary Stampeders for the 2008 season, Brandon Smith is one of the longest-serving members of the club and one of the holdovers from the 2008 Grey Cup-winning team.

Smith and the Stampeders are looking for more success this post-season.

“It takes a lot of hard work,” said the veteran halfback. “Everyone has to be committed and to buy into the system.”

The Stamps head into the West Division semifinal coming off a 12-6 regular-season record and second-place finish. Calgary won the season series with Saskatchewan two games to one.

Smith thinks the Stampeders, who won their final four regular-season contests, are coming together at the right time.

“Just believing in each other,” he said, “we’re one unit. Even though the offence is on offence and we’re on defence, we have to support the offence, and they have to support us when we’re out there.

“In years past, we’ve had that chemistry but certain things were lacking. This year seems to be the year.”

Smith is part of a veteran nucleus on the defensive side of the ball.

“We have a good leadership group with this team,” said Smith. “In the past, we’ve had good leaders. As Juwan (Simpson), Keon (Raymond), Charleston (Hughes) and myself have grown, we learned some things from them. We have been around long enough to know what it takes to win.”

Smith says the team is in a good frame of mind heading into Sunday’s game.

“By buying into the system, we all believe in the scheme we have set for Saskatchewan,” he said. “We believe we have what it takes to go out and win. We’ve got to just take it one game at a time and focus. This game will be huge.”

“There’s going to be a lot of energy and excitement — it’s a big rivalry.”

It’s a rivalry that doesn’t need much hyping.

 “We have to come out and match their intensity,” he said. “Or better yet, exceed it. It’s going to come down to a couple big plays. We just have to be on the benefiting end.”