Lorenzo Burns will play his first match as a starter with the Alouettes

It appears that defensive back Lorenzo Burns will play his first game as a starter with the Montreal Alouettes, this Saturday in Toronto.

Burns, five-foot-eleven, 185 pounds, took part in a third straight practice Thursday at Stade Hébert in Saint-Léonard as part of coordinator Noel Thorpe’s first defensive unit. It appears he will be used in place of Nafees Lyon among the starters.

Burns, 26, was hired on September 9. Initially inserted into the team’s practice squad, he participated in last Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Redblacks, making a tackle.

It also seems increasingly likely that Quebec safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy will make a return to the game.

After suffering a concussion in the game against the BC Lions, Dequoy missed the game against the Calgary Stampeders. After participating in practice last week in preparation for the game in Ottawa, Dequoy was eventually scratched from the lineup.The Alouettes’ No. 24 indicated Tuesday that it was not a preventative measure and that he had to comply with the requirements of the CFL’s concussion protocol. After taking part in his team’s three practices this week, it appears that he will be at his position against the Argos (7-7).

The Alouettes (11-2-1) could clinch first place in the East with a win this Saturday at 7 p.m. at BMO Field. The team could already be crowned before the game if the Redblacks lose to the Saskatchewan Roughriders earlier in the afternoon.