Music: {allcanada} DURANT READY TO LEAD ROUGHRIDERS TO THE GREY CUP

REGINA -- Darian Durant is ready to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders to the Grey Cup final for the third straight year, and this time he expects a different result.

After Grey Cup losses in 2009 and 2010, both heartbreakers at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes, Durant is determined to bring the Grey Cup back to Saskatchewan.

"The greats lose sometimes. (Doug) Flutie's lost -- (Anthony) Calvillo's lost -- and now Durant's lost," he said from the sidelines of Regina's Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field on Sunday during the team's first official practice.

His father, Israel, has been a source of inspiration and guidance through the ups and downs of the 28-year-old quarterback's career in a Roughriders jersey.

In Saskatchewan's 21-18 Grey Cup loss to the Als this past November, it was Israel who offered Durant the most insight on bouncing back.

"He's told me the greats lose games. It's all about just making sure you enjoy the journey and making sure you get back," Durant said. "And sooner or later you'll put your stamp on one."

Since his beginnings with the Roughriders in 2006, Durant has completed 808 passes for 11,026 total yards, has rushed for 1,343 yards and has 56 touchdowns to his name. Durant is a versatile veteran whose legs are as dangerous as his arm.

Splitting his time between Regina and his home in South Carolina over the off-season, Durant has been an active community man in Saskatchewan's capital city. In March, Durant teamed up with his dad for a visit to a Saskatoon youth centre for a father-son event.

The excitement and renewed optimism that comes with the beginning of a new Canadian Football League season was palpable at Mosaic as hundreds of fans filled the stands for the Riders' first full-team practice. There was however, a feeling that something was missing.

Receivers Andy Fantuz and Rob Bagg -- two of Durant's favourite targets over the past several seasons -- were noticeable absences.

Fantuz is trying to catch on with the Chicago Bears when the NFL's lockout ends, while Bagg has been placed on a nine-game injured list after re-aggravating his knee a week prior to training camp.

"That's part of the game and part of the business," Durant said. "We have guys get hurt here and there and we need other guys to step up and that's kind of how we look at this situation.

"We just need someone else to step up and I think we have the guys to do it. Even though it's different, it's a challenge and it's something that we look forward too."

Durant knows that chemistry will be the galvanizing factor in finding success with a new core of receivers.

"I had been working with Andy (Fantuz) for five years. You can never replace years of experience. And also he's a beast at receiver," Durant said. "It's going to take a lot -- it's going to take a group effort to replace a guy like that."

Fantuz was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian in 2010, while his counterpart Bagg nearly had a 700-yard campaign before succumbing to a season-ending knee injury last October.

"A lot of people don't give Rob the credit he deserves," Durant said. "He was one of the best receivers on our team so we definitely miss him too."

On a receiving core saturated with talent, the question now remains who will now forge that go-to-guy relationship with Durant. He thinks Regina native Jason Clermont is an possible candidate.

"Here's a guy who has been an all-star basically the first six or seven years of his career. He knows what it takes to get the job done. He's a great receiver," Durant said.

Durant noted that he and Clermont have been collaborating in the off-season in an effort to duplicate the chemistry he once shared with Fantuz.

"All he needs is opportunity," said Durant. "I've been working with him a lot this off-season and I think he's ready to step up."

Durant was also satisfied with how his arm felt Sunday.

"It feels good. It's good having coaches with experience, they know how to split up the reps and how not to wear you down at a time like this. I feel good."

Riders' new head coach Greg Marshall concurred.

"I thought he looked good. I'm sure like every day there's probably some throws he though he could have thrown better. But overall I thought he looked pretty good," said Marshall.

"You know, the first day is always a work in progress," he added.

The Roughriders will test their new receiving corps in a pre-season game against the Edmonton Eskimos on June 17 in Regina. Until then, there's only one thing on Durant's mind -- progressing to the Grey Cup once more.

"Just getting back to the Cup -- that's what it's all about. I enjoy the journey. Now it's about taking every day to get better and building a foundation. And hopefully that foundation is enough to get us to the Promised Land."