TORONTO -- On the outside, Ricky Ray will be calm as usual. But inside, he'll be anything but.
Ray will make his season debut as the Toronto Argonauts' starter on Friday when they host the B.C. Lions at Rogers Centre. The 36-year-old quarterback spent the first half of the year recovering from off-season shoulder surgery before returning as Trevor Harris's backup.
Harris led Toronto (9-7) to a playoff berth, but the offence has struggled recently, especially in last week's 34-2 loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
Ray, in his 13th CFL season, said he'll experience a myriad of emotions against B.C. That includes being nervous before the opening kickoff, something he feels before every game even after more than a decade in pro football.
"You never know what's going to happen, you want to play well and make sure you're going to make good decisions and help your team win," he said. "I'm going to feel all the emotions that you normally go through like excitement, being a little nervous.
"You're going to face adversity during the game, you're going to be a little bit down and then do some good things and be back up. It's definitely a roller-coaster of emotions and I'm just looking forward to feeling that again."
Chasing his 100th career win as a starter to tie Matt Dunigan for No. 7 all-time, Ray saw his first action of the season against Montreal. He completed 12-of-15 second-half passes for 107 yards and had a TD strike to Kevin Elliott negated by penalty.
"It feels like I got a little bit of pre-season action last week and I'm making my first start of the season this year, which I am," Ray said. "Usually the first game of the year is everybody's first game and you can go out there and everybody can feel the same.
"Now, I have those feelings and everybody is at the end of their year. For me it's trying to focus on what I try and do, prepare well and make sure I trust what I see and make good decisions."
Ray added he isn't concerned about his surgically repair right throwing shoulder.
"I had a good week of practice," he said. "I felt like I was able to be accurate and make the throws that I wanted to."
Ray has battled injuries since coming to Toronto from the Edmonton Eskimos prior to the 2012 season. But Argos head coach Scott Milanovich said Ray has always returned strong.
"Ricky just has a quiet calm, confidence about him that I think can be felt," he said. "I expect him to play well.
"I've got to remind myself he hasn't played much, but he's had a history of coming back off injuries and long delays and playing well."
Ray's return could be good news for veteran slotback Chad Owens, who has 51 catches this year after three-straight campaigns of 85 or more receptions.
"Ricky and Chad have something kind of special," Milanovich said. "It remains me a lot of what AC (former Montreal star quarterback Anthony Calvillo) had with (Ben) Cahoon."
Toronto must win one of its final two regular-season games -- it hosts the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Nov. 6 -- to have a shot at second in the East Division and a home playoff date in the conference semifinal.
B.C. (6-10) also has plenty to play for. The Lions are battling Montreal (6-10) and Winnipeg (5-11) for the third West Division playoff berth.
"When you play a team like Montreal last week that has to win to keep its season alive, this week B.C., has to win to keep its season alive, you have to find ways to match that intensity," Milanovich said. "I don't think we did that last week and we're going to need to do that (Friday) night."
Toronto's offensive line will be bolstered by the return of starters Greg Van Roten (guard) and Chris Van Zeyl (tackle). Newcomer Phil Bates replaces the suspended Tori Gurley at receiver.
Ray, like Harris, is in the final year of his CFL contract and could be auditioning for 2016. But Ray said that's nothing new either.
"You're always auditioning," he said. "I feel like every time you get a chance to play you're out there proving yourself and trying to help the team out and earn the respect of your players and coaches.
"That's your mindset every time you step on the field."
