The home team’s starting pitcher peered down from the hill and steeled himself for the upcoming meat of the order.

“Man, like facing the Atlanta Braves back in the day,’’ mused quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. “Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Andres Galarraga, (David) Justice. Remember? Big bats everywhere.

“No easy easy outs but you couldn’t pitch around any of ’em because of who was waiting in the on-deck circle.

“We’ve got a tough stretch coming up, for sure. BC twice, Edmonton back-to-back on the Labour Day week, throw in a little Toronto and then into Saskatchewan, always a tough place to go.

“But man, that’s why we play. That’s what makes this game so great.

“Gonna be high-scoring, fun football to watch.

“So make sure you’ve got your TVs on.”

Bo Levi Mitchell is braced for a tough stretch of schedule for the Stamps (PHOTO BY CANADIAN PRESS/NATHAN DENETTE)

Returning to the job site Sunday morning after a welcome spot of R&R on the bye week, the Calgary Stampeders sport an identical record – 5-1-1- as a season ago.

What’s changed, however, is that instead of the being the hunted, now they’re hunting.

Off in pursuit of the so-far-perfect 7-0 Edmonton Eskimos while being jostled at close quarters by both the BC Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

With the Leos slated to face Saskatchewan at the new Mosaic later Sunday afternoon, the Stamps could conceivably have gone to bed later in the evening stuck in third spot in the West.

Third. Having pocketed 11 of a possible 14 points. Believe it or not.

Now that, brother, is what’s called competitive.

From a Stamp standpoint, there’s certainly no downplaying the importance of the stretch of games Mitchell mentioned, which opens Friday at B.C. Place.

“This,’’ maintained mammoth defensive tackle Micah Johnson, “is the fun part of the schedule. Against West Division teams we know very, very well.

“These are our most competitive games.

“Coach does a great job breaking down the season, keeping our sights on where they need to be. I don’t think you can wrapped up in the standings, where you’re at. We’re 5-1-1 but we realize we need to be better.

“Our mindset doesn’t change whether we’re in first place or not. To get there, to where you want to be, it’s staying in the moment, not getting distracted and going about your business.”

This is roughly the moment a calendar year ago when the Stampeder rocket ship lifted off its launch-pad to create separation between itself and the rest of the field en route to a dizzying 15-2-1 record.

Jamar Wall says it’s no surprise how tough the West is again in 2017 (Photo by David Moll)

“Does the closeness surprise me?” An emphatic head-shake from DB Jamar Wall. “No. Not at all. It’s always tough in the West. Nothing against the East, but you can go about .500 and still get there.

“Not on this side. Edmonton’s always good. So is BC. And Winnipeg, they’re getting there, too.

“You’ve got the top three teams in the league and we’ve got four games against the other two over the next five weeks. This kind of a stretch can make or break your season, realistically.

“Dave has emphasized that this is where we need to buckle down. Yeah, we’re playing good right now. But those other teams are, too.

“BC’s up next. They have great receivers. A lot of them. (Bryan) Burnham. Manny (Arceneaux). (Chris) Williams is just coming back. They can put these guys anywhere. Williams is usually a boundary guy but they also have Nick (Moore), who can do that, as well. So they’ve got a lot of options.

“And with two great quarterbacks throwing them the ball, don’t forget. (Travis) Lulay’s been amazing, averaging over 370 yards a game. Not bad for an old guy, right? And (Jonathon) Jennings is ready to return. So pick your poison.”

Despite the Eskimos’ torrid start, Dave Dickenson doesn’t foresee any of the thoroughbreds in this race bolting out to a simply-can’t-be-caught Secretariat-like lead.

“You never know how it’s going to play out,’’ reasoned the coach. “But I am a bit surprised teams from the West have kinda had their way with the East so far.

“Big challenge, these next few weeks. You want to win at home. Protecting home field is really, really important. So I don’t mind starting this on the road. We steal one in BC and that helps set us up for what’s ahead.

“I don’t think anyone’s going to run away with anything. Nobody, in my mind, is going to sweep through the West, like last season.

“It’s going to be a year-long process. You’re just going to have to maintain a high, really high, standard, week after week, and just keep grinding away.”