The long wait is finally over for John Avery and Ricky Williams.

For much of the season, the two former NFL first-round draft picks could only talk about what life might be like with both players in the same backfield. But on Monday both Avery and Williams will be on Toronto's roster for the first time this year and are projected to line up together behind quarterback Damon Allen versus the Edmonton Eskimos at Rogers Centre (CBC, 4 p.m. ET).

``I'm just excited to be in the backfield with one of the best running backs on this earf, and that's earf with an F,'' Avery, a budding stand-up comic, said following Toronto's practice Sunday. ``That's how we pronounce it in the south so that's a Thanksgiving word from the Negroes down south.

``It's just going to be exciting to be back there with a guy like that. He gives you so much energy because he gets you excited when you see him run over a guy or pound a blitzing linebacker. I'm ecstatic.''

The game is very important to both teams.

Toronto (8-6) comes in tied with Montreal for first in the East Division but can clinch a CFL playoff berth with a win.

The defending Grey Cup-champion Eskimos (5-9) desperately need the victory to keep their slim post-season hopes alive. They're last in the West Division and any combination of Edmonton losses or Saskatchewan wins adding up to three will eliminate the Green and Gold from playoff contention for the first time in 35 years.

``I don't worry about that,'' said Edmonton coach Danny Maciocia. ``The streak will end one day.

``Hopefully it's not us but if it is, then we'll start a new one next year. But that (streak) is the least of my concerns.''

More important is contending with the Williams-Avery backfield.

``We know for a fact if they're going to dress them both and put them in the same backfield they're going to give them the ball,'' Maciocia said. ``They're going to try to distribute the ball to those guys and they feel by doing so it should open up the passing game downfield . . . so we're going to have to stop the run.

``But the battle is going to be won on the line of scrimmage. We're going to have to try and create some havoc in their backfield and if we do then we have a chance. But there's no question with having those two guys back there that they're going to have a package for both.''

The presence of Williams and Avery in the backfield certainly gives Toronto a lot of offensive flexibility. The five-foot-10, 220-pound Williams is a powerful runner who has the strength to either run over would-be tacklers or deliver an effective straight arm. The former NFL rushing champion also has experience at fullback _ he played there during his college career at Texas _ and said he gains as much satisfaction from delivering a crushing block as he does from scoring touchdowns.

``I consider myself a big-play blocker as much as a big-play runner or big-play receiver,'' said Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner as U.S. college football's top player. ``To me, football is a game where you have to kick, run, block and tackle and whether you do any of those four, it's still football.''

Avery, however, is a slashing runner with quickness and an ability to make tacklers miss in the open field. He's also a good receiver, and can be a threat coming out of the backfield or lining up as a slotback.

``They're big-play guys, super athletic, plenty of talent,'' Edmonton veteran linebacker A.J. Gass said of Williams and Avery. ``It's going to be a hard day's work to keep them contained.''

The start will be Avery's first in five weeks since sustaining an ankle injury last month in a game versus Winnipeg. For Williams, this will be his third game back following a two-month absence recovering from a broken forearm and Achilles tendon injury.

Williams has rushed for 91 yards on 17 carries since his return, boosting his season totals to 322 yards on 74 carries (4.4-yard average per attempt). But when Williams suffered his forearm injury, Avery stepped in and was effective, rushing for 258 yards on 48 carries (5.4-yard average) before injuring his right ankle.

Injuries have plagued Avery since he joined Toronto prior to the 2004 season. He signed with the Argos following the 2003 campaign with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, one that ended with Avery suffering a major knee injury. It took him almost two years to get over that ailment, then this season with a clean bill of health, Avery was shunted to the sidelines after Toronto signed Williams.

But Avery cautioned Argos fans about having unrealistic expectations for the Avery-Williams backfield formation.

``I think you can only expect Ricky to be physical, to stiff arm a few guys and push their helmet to their waist and run a few guys over,'' he said. ``You can expect me to make a few guys miss and try to be elusive.

``I think if we had been in the backfield all season long there's no doubt in my mind we would've been able to hurt a lot of teams with that combination of power and speed.''