There has already been some discussion about what the Argos should do if they wrapped up first place early. Now that it has happened, seems time to expand that discussion.

Here's what I would do.

Anyone who has a semi-serious nagging injury at the moment gets next week (home against Hamilton) off. This assumes there is an adequate, healthy replacement waiting in the wings, of course. For a few positions (NAT receiver and INT DB) there is just about no one else available at the moment.

Play as much of our primary lineup as possible in Winnipeg. That's a statement game and we need all hands on deck.

The next two games (home vs. Edm and home vs. Ott) are when we should really roll out some replacements. There will be no competitive balance issues as those teams are out of contention anyway. Let starters (on O, D and ST) who have played most or all games this year get one week off. There are two games, so these strategic rests can be spread around without flooding the lineup with backups. Have Kelly play no more than a quarter in each game, and give both Dukes and Scott serious playing time. Let AJ sit for McMahon, let Pickett sit, let Flo sit, etc.

For the second-last game against Sask, dress and play as full a lineup as possible, but be prepared to go to backups if anyone gets even slightly nicked.

The final game against Ott, start the starters but play backups (including Dukes/Scott) for two to three quarters.

Do everything possible to get Priester and Carnell some playing time down the stretch. In theory, that should also apply to Bladek and Muamba. But my guess is that those two will be used only if we run into serious emergencies at their positions. We have now saved two-thirds of each guy's salary, and the team is 11-1 without them. Why not try to save the final third by keeping them on the six for the rest of the season? It would make them essentially unavailable for the playoffs, but the salary savings are significant and could be used as signing bonus for some guys we need to try to re-sign (like the young NATs coming to the end of their rookie contracts -- Cassar, Hoyte, Nield, Brissett, Giffen).