CALGARY - The Calgary Stampeders hope to celebrate CFL Retro Week with a performance reminiscent of last season.

The Grey Cup-champion Stampeders (0-2) will host the Toronto Argonauts (1-1) on Friday night at McMahon Stadium, when both teams will be wearing 1960s retro uniforms. Calgary knows it can't afford to fall to 0-3 in the difficult West Division, and won't be taking the Argos lightly.

"Toronto's coming in and I know their coach has them ready," said Stamps receiver Ken-Yon Rambo, who had a touchdown catch during last week's 42-30 road loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after missing Calgary's home opener with a hamstring injury.

"All our fans are going to be here and we've got the retro game with the old-school look. All the players love that and we're just ready to go out here and play."

Calgary quarterback Henry Burris said the Stamps have to concentrate on starting off strongly against the Argos in front of their home crowd.

"Our biggest thing is to make sure we come out here, get the chains moving early, stay on the field offensively and get some momentum going on our side," Burris said.

A quick start offensively will also allow Burris a chance to get the ball into the hands of running back Joffrey Reynolds, who is off to a slow start after leading the CFL in rushing yards last season.

"Teams have done a good job of putting us in a rut early so therefore it really makes us one-dimensional and really curtails some of the things we can do with Joffrey," Burris said.

In turn, Stamps defensive lineman Mike Labinjo said the Calgary defence will have their hands full in trying to contain Toronto's Jamal Robertson, who leads the league with 214 yards rushing to go with a pair of touchdowns.

"Because they're so balanced with the run and the pass, you've got to take away one thing from them," said Labinjo, a Toronto native who always gets geared up to play against the Argos. "If you can stop the run, that's big. Teams that are running the ball well this year are winning games. Obviously teams that aren't, are losing."

For his part, Robertson is doing what he can to keep opposing teams off balance with his speed and ability to break tackles.

"I feel like any team that can get the run game going, it opens up the pass and puts the defence in a bind," said the five-foot-nine, 214-pound running back, who has 35 games of NFL experience with the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.

"Whenever you're all one sided, the defence knows how to play that. When you have the run game, now you have to do a little more thinking. Hopefully we can get the run established and then they have to worry about the pass as well."

Toronto quarterback Kerry Joseph has been impressed with Robertson's ability to keep opposing teams off balance.

"Its good to have a guy like that and the things he's been able to do," said Joseph, who's looking to help his squad rebound following a 46-36 loss at home to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last Saturday.

Robertson's impressive play so far this season has also opened up space for receivers like Reggie McNeal, Mike Bradwell and veteran slotback Arland Bruce III, all of whom are in the top 10 in the CFL in receiving yards.

"Don't forget about No. 25 (Robertson) on our team," cautioned Bruce. "Once he gets going, that's going to definitely open it up for the receiving game. We've got Kerry, too, who can run the ball. We have weapons. It's about putting it together right now."

On the defensive side of the ball, the Argos know they can't take the Stamps for granted despite their 0-2 record.

"We certainly have to show up (Friday) night," noted defensive tackle Adriano Belli. "They have a great offensive line this year. Its a bunch of young guys who are very aggressive. It's part of the reason they won the Grey Cup last year. Hopefully we can take some wind out of their sails."

First-year CFL coach Bart Andrus said he's looking forward to seeing how the Argos will respond following last week's setback against the Riders.

"This is one that you mark on your calendar because you get to compare yourself to the Grey Cup champions from the previous season," Andrus said. "That's always something that you look forward to. I feel good about the way that our football team has prepared this week and the focus that they've had and I think its going to be a great game."

Calgary coach John Hufnagel, who isn't used to losing after guiding Calgary to a Grey Cup title in his first season as a CFL head coach, said the Stamps have to get back to what made them successful.

"Last year we played pretty good team football," Hufnagel said. "This is a new year and we have yet to do that."