The Simon Fraser University Clan will be making its NCAA Division II debut this Saturday on the gridiron.

The varsity Clan are hosting Western Oregon University in their debut in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference at Terry Fox Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

SFU first played in the NAIA under U.S. college football rules from 1965 to 2001 before joining Canadian Interuniversity Sport for eight seasons.

This season marks the return to the four-down American game.

Santa Rosa junior college transfer Quinton Agosta is expected to be the starter on opening day.

Burnaby rookie Stephen Spagnuolo, a Notre Dame Regional grad and provincial all-star who led the B.C. high school in rushing last season, is expected to see the backfield at some point this season.

Senior running back Gabe Ephard, who averaged 7.7 yards a carry in 2009 will likely get the start in the back field against Western Oregon.

Mathis Baumbach, SFU's top returning receiver from 2009 and San Mateo transfer B.J. Bryant are expected to be the targets for Agosta in the opener.

Along the offensive line, Brad Erdos is the lone returning starter from last season and is a lock at left tackle.

Senior Kris Gluppe is expected to move into the starting role at left guard, while former defensive tackle Connor Reh has moved to provide more depth to a young and relatively inexperience O line.

The defensive line returns all four starters from last year, including guards Scott Puffer and Justin Capicciotti, and Blair West and Dan Martin at tackles.

At linebacker, two New Westminster Hyacks are pushing for starting jobs on the outside. Casey Chin and Kevin Semenowich are both in a battle against a pair of American university transfers.

Canada West all-star cornerback Nigel Parma will move over to halfback this season.

St. Thomas More grad Marc DesLauriers was injured in training camp with a bruised heel and is expected to move into the safety spot when healthy.

Moscrop grad Jeff Biles will return to his kicking duties for his senior year after missing last season with knee problems. Biles will handle both the placekicking and punts for the Clan.

"We have to be able to make this transition (to American rules) without any major hiccups," said SFU head coach Dave Johnson, in a Clan press release.

"Offensively, we are still discovering our identity. We are going to have a multiple set offence, and because we are very young, we are going to use a lot of misdirection and quick hits.

"Defensively, we are a little more established. We have more returning players and we are very athletic, particularly up front on our defensive line."

The expanded GNAC schedule will see SFU play 10 regular season games, including five home games, four of them coming in the first five weeks of the schedule.