Alberta has locked up first place and last-rock advantage throughout the playoffs at the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men's curling championship in Winnipeg.

Kevin Martin's half-Edmonton, half-Calgary team knocked off defending Brier and world champion Glenn Howard of Ontario 7-4 in Draw 15 play on Thursday morning at the MTS Centre.

With the win, Martin, third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert improved to 10-0, meaning no team can catch them for first place.

"We couldn't ask for anything better," said Hebert. "First place, hammer in the playoffs, we're playing great throughout the lineup. We have our draw weight. And hopefully the ice stays the same, because it's really good right now."

They will play in Friday's Page playoff one-two game against either Ontario (8-2) or Saskatchewan's Pat Simmons (8-1), who had a bye on Thursday morning. Saskatchewan needs only a split today, against Northern Ontario's Eric Harnden this afternoon and Manitoba's Kerry Burtnyk tonight, to clinch second place.

Alberta gave up single points in the first two ends to Ontario, and trailed 3-1 through five. But the Wild Rosers tied it with a deuce in the sixth, forced Ontario to one in the seventh, then cracked a big three in the eighth.

In other action, Newfoundland/Labrador's Brad Gushue and B.C.'s Bob Ursel both picked up wins to stay alive for the fourth and final playoff berth.

B.C. improved to 6-4 by beating P.E.I's Peter Gallant (3-7) 6-3, while Newfoundland/Labrador turned back New Brunswick's James Grattan 9-7 to keep pace with B.C.

Should they both win their afternoon games — B.C. plays New Brunswick while Newfoundland/Labrador takes on P.E.I. — it would force a tiebreaker on Friday.

It could be a three-team tiebreaker should Manitoba win twice today, against Quebec's Jean-Michel Menard and Saskatchewan.

In the other morning game, Nova Scotia's Brian Rafuse (3-7) shaded Chad Cowan of the Yukon/Northwest Territories (2-8) 8-7.

The first- and second-place teams at the end of round-robin play Thursday night will meet in the Page playoff one-two game on Friday while the third- and fourth-place teams also will meet Friday (times TBA). The winner of the one-two game will advance directly to Sunday's championship game (6:30 p.m., all times Eastern) on CBC. The loser will play the winner of the three-four game in Saturday's semifinal at 2:30 p.m. on CBC.

Play at the Tim Hortons Brier resumes Thursday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; TSN will show both draws.