Erwin Klempner can't wait to get back to the grassroots of football.

The Regina Thunder head coach puts the emphasis on "grass" as his team gets set to meet the host Saskatoon Hilltops tonight at Gordie Howe Bowl, the only facility in the Prairie Football Conference that still has natural turf.

"That's as natural as it gets; it's as earthy as it gets," said Klempner.

And with the old-school field, there could also be some old-school football between the provincial rivals.

The last time the teams met, Regina scored a 26-24 win over Saskatoon at Mosaic Stadium on Aug. 15. It was only the second time the Thunder had beaten the Hilltops since the Regina team joined the PFC in 2000.

"They don't like losing," said Thunder cornerback Cody Johnstone, who sealed the most-recent win with a late interception. "We've only beat them two times in history. They definitely didn't enjoy that loss so they're going to come out twice as hard, if not harder. We know what they're bringing to the table so we have to come out like we did before."

"That game is going to be all about who hits the hardest," added receiver Jonathan Probe. "One hit could change the momentum in that game. It's going to be a dogfight."

While the Thunder's victory over the Hilltops was one of the most emotional in the winning team's history, players and coaches aren't trying to focus on it too much prior to tonight's contest.

"That win doesn't mean anything if we don't win this week," said Johnstone. "We talk about the good things we did and doing them again. We have to focus on those mistakes we made and come out even stronger."

Regina and Saskatoon are currently tied for first in the PFC with the Calgary Colts, all with 3-1 records. With three victories, the Thunder has already equalled the most wins Klempner has had in any of his previous three seasons with the team.

"We've worked our tails off to be in this kind of position and it's exciting to be a part of it," said Klempner. "If you don't get goosebumps about this kind of game, you aren't a football player."

At the same time, Klempner is thinking big picture as the Thunder comes off its bye week.

"It's not so much about the Hilltops anymore; it's about coming into the second half of the season," said Klempner. "This is like a game. A game is won and lost in the second half. We have to come out at halftime (of the season), make our stand and create our identity as a football team."

That identity, Klempner hopes, won't continue to be as the most penalized team in the league. Through four games, the Thunder has amassed 554 penalty yards, 67 more than the next most penalized team, the Edmonton Wildcats, who have played one more game than Regina.

"We're going to hurt ourselves more than anybody else does," said Klempner. "In the second half, when the screws are a little tighter and things get that much more intense, we need to play hard and aggressive, but we also have to be smart. We haven't been very smart in the first half of the season."