The Edmonton Elks will be without 11 players for Saturday’s home game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, including receiver Joe Robustelli, as injuries continue to test the roster. Centre David Beard is also uncertain to play, with his status to be decided at game time. Edmonton enters the matchup 10-4 and in first place in the West Division.

Robustelli, an American receiver, made his season debut three games ago after missing the first 11 contests with an injury. He was added to the injured list this week with a foot ailment. In three games, he has recorded 177 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Robustelli had joined the lineup after receiver TJ Luther was injured. Luther had become a key contributor to the offence this season, finishing 11 games with 649 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The club has had to adjust at other positions, too: when explosive kick returner and running back Javon Leake was sidelined with a hamstring injury, ShuDerrick Powell stepped in and drew attention over the past two games on offence and special teams.

Head coach Mark Kilam said Friday he feels “really good” about the team’s depth. He spoke to reporters at Commonwealth Stadium after the Elks’ walkthrough, describing players who may still get their chance to contribute. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can contribute and a lot of guys we haven’t even seen yet that we know can play,” Kilam said. “Going down the final stretch, we want to make sure whoever’s getting on the roster makes the most of their opportunity so that we can make the best choices heading into the playoffs.”

Hamilton is 4-10, sits third in the East Division and has lost six of its past seven games. The Tiger-Cats are close to playoff elimination. The B.C. Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are both 7-6, three wins ahead of Hamilton in the crossover race. If both teams win and Hamilton loses, the Tiger-Cats would be barred from the CFL postseason.

Under CFL crossover rules, a fourth-place team in one division can qualify for the other division’s playoffs if it finishes with a better record than that division’s third-place team. Saturday’s game is also Edmonton’s fifth annual Indigenous Celebration, scheduled ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday. Plans for the celebration include “Herd it here.”

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.