Music: {allcanada} RAY MAKES ARGOS DEBUT AGAINST JYLES, ESKIMOS ON TSN

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EDMONTON - Ricky Ray isn't counting on any love from Edmonton Eskimo fans when he leads his new team, the Toronto Argonauts, against his old teammates Saturday.

Catch all the action on TSN and TSN Mobile TV at 7pm et/4pm pt.

"I'm expecting boos," Ray said after arriving at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday prior to his team's CFL season-opening matchup.

"I've just travelled enough around the CFL, going to Regina, Hamilton and some of those places, (like) Winnipeg, and you get haggled pretty good, so I'm just expecting it to be the same."

Ray played for nine years in the Green and Gold, winning two Grey Cups and racking up more than 40,000 yards in passing before getting traded to Toronto last December.

The 32-year-old said if hears boos, he's OK with it.

"The fans here don't owe me anything," he said.

"I owe so much to (the fans) for the support they've given me throughout my career here.

"I'm a visitor coming into their stadium and I expect the worst."

Ray admitted it will be strange to walk into the visitor locker-room and not the Eskimo room on game day, but said it's good to get it over with.

"It's nice to play this game early and kind of put it to bed," he said.

"It feels different from a regular regular-season game. There's extra media and different emotions that you're going through."

Ray was traded by Eskimo general manager Eric Tillman to the Argonauts for quarterback Steven Jyles, kicker Grant Shaw, and a draft pick.

Eskimo fans writing, blogging and phoning sports call-in shows have been generally critical, saying Edmonton gave away too much for Jyles, a quarterback with fast legs and a strong arm but one who has been a backup for much of his six-year CFL career.

Ray said he was shocked at the trade, but said he's made his peace with it.

"You feel like (the Eskimos) didn't believe in you anymore," he said.

"You just wish you could have been the guy they thought could get them to the Grey Cup again. Definitely it hurts you a little bit, but it's part of the business."

Meanwhile, when Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Steven Jyles sits by himself in his dressing room cubicle, the memory of Ricky Ray is over his head — literally.

Above the bench and hooks is a plate with Jyles' name and number. Above that is a tiny plaque that reads "Ricky Ray 2002-2011." It reminds players that this is where the team's career passing leader sat before being dealt to the Toronto Argonauts for Jyles in a package deal last December.

Saturday's game will be the culmination of six years of hard work and broken dreams for Jyles, the 29-year-old from Baton Rouge, La.. For six years he has stood on the sidelines with a clipboard and hit the field only when someone else got hurt or played poorly.

When the Eskimos traded for him, it was a signal that Edmonton general manager Eric Tillman believed Jyles was ready for prime time. It was Steven's turn, his moment in the sun.

But as Jyles stood this week in front of Ray's old locker, almost every media question that came at him was about someone else. Yes, he said, he's replacing a legend.

"Ricky Ray's a great guy. A future Hall of Famer in my eyes," said Jyles.

No, he won't by overwhelmed by the grandeur of Ricky's Return.

"It's just another ball game for us."

His voice was emotionless, his mood that of a dental patient — polite but determined to get it over with.

Jyles is no stranger to skepticism but it reached new heights following the trade that brought him back to the Alberta capital.

He played with Edmonton for two seasons when he began his CFL career in 2006, and couldn't get off the sidelines. Jyles was dismissed as all arm, no football sense.

Since then, he has shone in spot duty with Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, and Toronto, known for his fast feet, a cannon arm and game-breaking potential.

Eskimos receiver Greg Carr, who also played with Jyles in Winnipeg, said they see Jyles taking those hits and get inspired.

Carr said Jyles' speed gives the Eskimos the extra offensive dimension they need. It's one that wasn't there with Ray.

Jyles can change the game with his feet or improvise a new play out of a broken one, said Carr.

"With him no play is dead."

Eskimos linebacker T.J. Hill said that against Jyles, defensive linemen must diligently honour the gaps or risk him breaking free for big yardage. Linebackers walk a fine line, he said.

Over-commit and Jyles runs past you. Drop off too deep and he torches you with the underneath throws.