Hostilities will be renewed for 2013 between the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats when the two face off at McMahon Stadium tonight.

It will be a battle between the two of the CFL’s hottest teams in the last five weeks with Hamilton and Calgary each winning in four of their last five games. Calgary is currently tied for the league’s best record at 8-2.

Hamilton’s defence has been a major factor in the club’s recent success.

“They’ve got a bunch of different fronts, they’re always on the move and they just don’t give up,” says Jon Gott whose latest look — bald head and full beard — resembles that of a Viking marauder.

“As you can see from their last game, they get a lot of pressure on the QB.”

That pressure is telling when you look at their impressive stats. Over the last five games, the Ticats have held their opponents to an average of only 315 yards of total offence.

While putting up 141 points in that same span, the Ticats have only given up 90.

A challenge for the Stamps biggest offensive weapon in Jon Cornish, the Tabbies have allowed a measly average of 67 yards rushing per game.

It’s just another week at the office for the Calgary o-line.

“Every defence we play each week is a good defence,” says offensive line coach Mike Gibson. “So it’s just next game, next opponent.

“There’s no real big changes for us, we’ve just got to prepare for what they do. They’re a real good defensive team but it’s no different from one week to the next.”

While Hamilton has been receiving praise for the way the defence has contributed to their hot streak, the Stamps offensive line has quietly gone about putting together some of the most remarkable protection under tough circumstances.

While much has been said about the Stamps injury woes in the premiere positions of quarterback, receiver and defensive line, Calgary’s hogs have battled their own medical issues and yet continue to roll on.

Gott, Dan Federkeil, Dimitri Tsoumpas, Edwin Harrison and J’Micheal Deane have all missed time this season but that has done little to deter Calgary’s front five from opening up holes for Cornish and protecting the pivot.

The boys in Red and White have allowed a league-low 22 QB sacks, while letting Cornish run for four 100-yard plus games on the season.

The Stampeders hold the second-largest total in offensive yards in 2013, a testament to the hard work of the guys in the trenches.

“It shows that we’ve got great depth at the offensive line,” says the titanic Stanley Bryant. “Any of us are ready to do what we’ve got to do”

Only Bryant and rookie centre Brett Jones have started every game for the Horsemen this season.

“We’re the only two survivors, but hopefully the other guys get healthy and come back soon,” says Bryant.

Regardless, the front men for the team have proven that injuries will not be an excuse for poor performance.

“We’ve got x-number of guys and they have to be versatile enough where if a guy goes down in a game, they play another position,” says Coach Gibson. “That’s part of the game.

“That’s why they made this team is because they play more than one position and they give us that versatility and some depth. They’re a good group of guys and they work hard and when the bell rings, whoever goes down, the next guy has got to step up and he may be moving one position to another.”

Gott is one of those versatile players, having started last season at centre to being moved to left guard this year with the emergence of Jones.

For the big man out of Lethbridge, the position doesn’t matter as much as execution of your role to help the team.

“We just have to be sound in our blocking,” he says. “And give our QB time to throw. It’s just the next game, there is nothing different.”