Chris Getzlaf hauls in a pass last season for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. (file photo)

After missing the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ two preseason games, Chris Getzlaf is set to return to the lineup on Sunday for the regular season opener.

The slotback declared himself ready to go after taking part in Friday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium.  

“It’s been a long road throughout training camp, I had to get over some bumps and bruises,” said Getzlaf to the gathered media.  “I feel pretty good, I’ve been sticking with it mentally… I’m ready to go.”

Getzlaf has been nursing a quad injury since the second practice of training camp in Saskatoon.  It kept him out of the warmup games against the Ottawa Redblacks and Edmonton Eskimos, but he was listed in the starting lineup for Sunday’s gam against Hamilton.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to get hit yet,” said Getzlaf.  “I’m looking forward to that, actually going out there and getting tackled, and first time it happens it’s going to feel great.”

After six seasons in the CFL, Getzlaf isn’t necessarily in need of training camp, but he said missing the preseason action is something that he needs to overcome.

“Part of it just a little bit of getting in shape and then other thing is getting hit,” said Getzlaf.  “Those are the only little differences I can really tell, but when you’ve played quite a few years, you go out there and it’s just second nature at this point.”

The return of his most experience receiver is music to the ears of quarterback Darian Durant.

“It’s always huge to have Getz out there, everyone knows the relationship we have and the time and work that we’ve put in over the years,” said Durant.  “To get him back and know that he’ll be ready is huge.”

The Riders’ receiving core has undergone plenty of changes with Chaz Schilens, Brett Swain and Ryan Smith joining Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Taj Smith.  Getzlaf says he’s been impressed with the work that the young receivers have put in, in his absence.

“We’ve had some good professionals come in, who worked hard and made sure they were sticking in the playbook and understanding it the way that it needs to be understood,” he said.  “You could tell that they were doing their homework each and every night during training camp.”

Adding Getzlaf to the mix is a big boost for the Riders heading into the home opener.

“I thought all of last year and since I’ve been here that Getty has been one of Darian’s number one targets,” said head coach Corey Chamblin.  “He’ll still do his role there and we just need the other guys to step up and do a good job so that we don’t miss those other guys as much as we think we will.”

The Riders host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in their home opener on Sunday at 5:00pm.  Click here for more on the green and white’s preparations.