For 40-plus returning members of the , the last memory of the 2016 season wasn害羞草研究所檛 a particularly pleasant one.

On Saturday night, the Sun look to begin the 2017 campaign with a much different feel when they play host to the rival and defending champion Westshore Rebels.

It was the Rebels who halted Okanagan害羞草研究所檚 Canadian Bowl hopes last October with a victory over them in the Cullen Cup final in Victoria.

While a little payback may be in the back of a few minds of Sun players, head coach Ben Macauley says that害羞草研究所檚 in the past.

害羞草研究所淭here might be some carry over from that game, we feel like they didn害羞草研究所檛 necessarily beat us as much we allowed that to happen,害羞草研究所� said Macauley. 害羞草研究所淏ut that害羞草研究所檚 in the past. It害羞草研究所檚 a big rivalry and the guys are excited to play them and get the season under way.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 want to place too much importance on this game, it害羞草研究所檚 our first and we害羞草研究所檙e not going to base our whole season on it,害羞草研究所� Macauley added. 害羞草研究所淥f course we want to come out and play well, but it害羞草研究所檚 about getting better and improving with each week.害羞草研究所�

With a full season now under his belt, plenty of experience on the coaching staff, a solid returning corps, and a strong recruiting class, Macauley says the Sun is well ahead of where it was 12 months ago, describing the difference as 害羞草研究所渘ight and day.害羞草研究所�

Fifth-year linebacker Eli Haynes is on board with his head coach.

害羞草研究所淭hings have been better this season from the get-go,害羞草研究所� said Haynes, one of the key leaders on the Sun defense this season. 害羞草研究所淭he (coaches) did a great job of recruiting, the guys they brought in are all really good guys and have all fit in well.

害羞草研究所淲e had a good training camp, we害羞草研究所檝e prepared well, so we害羞草研究所檙e excited to get at it.害羞草研究所�

As for the Rebels, the defending champs have undergone a number of changes on both sides of the ball since last season, including the loss of all-star running back, Jamal Lyles.

Regardless, Macauley expects the Rebels to bring a solid game plan into the Apple Bowl on Saturday night.

害羞草研究所淭here a lot of new faces there we don害羞草研究所檛 know a lot about, it害羞草研究所檚 hard to know what to expect, but we do expect them to be competitive,害羞草研究所� Macauley said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e playing against the defending champs, so it害羞草研究所檒l be a good gauge for us to see where we stand.害羞草研究所�

Kick off at the Apple Bowl between the Sun and Westshore is 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Sun in top 50

Five members of the Sun have cracked the Canadian Junior Football League害羞草研究所檚 annual rankings of the top 50 players in the country.

The players selected and their overall ranking:

害羞草研究所� 27害羞草研究所擟onor Richard, linebacker

害羞草研究所� 35害羞草研究所擝eck Fullerton, defensive back

害羞草研究所� 39害羞草研究所擡li Haynes, linebacker

害羞草研究所� 43害羞草研究所擟ory McCoy, defensive line

害羞草研究所� 47害羞草研究所擝rendan Hansen, running back