Courtesy Calgary Herald:

Here’s your Calgary Stampeders starting lineup for Thursday’s Canadian Football League season opener against the B.C. Lions.

At safety, Joffrey Reynolds.

At defensive tackle, Henry Burris.

At punter, Nik Lewis.

Truth be told, you can pretty much expect Reynolds, Burris and Lewis to line up at their regular positions (tailback, quarterback and slotback respectively) Thursday night at McMahon Stadium (8 p.m., QR77 Radio, TSN subject to blackout), but until they actually take the field, there’s no way to know for sure, because the Stampeders have closed their practices this week to the public and the media.

And, according to conventional wisdom, if the public and the media don’t know who’s starting, neither will the Lions.

“Obviously, when you can hold back as much as you can until the time where you have to expose yourself, then take advantage of it,” said Stamps coach and general manager John Hufnagel on Sunday.

“I think every coach in the league is doing the same thing I’m doing.

“Who are my starting players. Do you know? Well, that’s my point. And right now, I don’t know who B.C.’s starting players are, either.”

The practices aren’t entirely closed; there are short windows at the beginning and end of each session, but the real work is done in private.

It’s a strategy most often employed late in the season and in the playoffs, but rarely, if ever, in the lead-up to the opener.

Because the Stamps — and, to be honest, the Lions — kept things fairly close to the vest in Thursday’s pre-season finale at B.C. Place Stadium in terms of play-calling and personnel, this will be one of the rare opportunities this season that a team can spring a surprise on an opponent.

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