Satele and Estes, the starting guards, received encouraging results from their magnetic resonance imaging, a procedure that uses magnetic fields to create a picture of the body's interior.

Satele, who was injured in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 41-34 victory over Nevada, had feared he suffered a sprain. By definition, all sprains involve some degree of tearing to a ligament.

"It's a bruise, I think," Satele said. "I'll be all right."

Estes said he was told he suffered a "slight sprain or tweak" to his right knee. He said he was injured when a Nevada defender plowed into the back of his leg.

"Every day it gets better," Estes said. "If I had to play today, I'd play."

Satele and Estes did not participate in conditioning drills Monday or light-contact drills yesterday.

Today, the Warriors will practice in pads for the first time this week. With the team scheduled to depart tomorrow afternoon for Saturday's road game against Fresno State, today's workout could determine spots on the 60-player travel roster.

Grice-Mullins, who has missed the past two games, will try to sprint today.

Although head coach June Jones has doubts, Grice-Mullins said: "I still have a shot. We'll see how it goes."

Grice-Mullins said 40 friends and family members plan to attend the game.

Dickerson, who has started in place of Grice-Mullins, and Aaron Bain, who has been ill, did not practice yesterday.

Because of the shortage of right slotbacks, Mitch Farney, a freshman from Arizona, practiced with the first team. The speedy Farney (10.8 seconds over 100 meters) is projected to redshirt this season.

Asked if Farney will forfeit his redshirt opportunity and play this season, Jones said, "right now, he's not. But things change. You never know."

Farney said: "I'd love to play, but I'll do whatever's best for the team."

Mauia said he expects to play despite the injuries. He said the pain in his right shoulder is bothersome; it is "really sore" in his left shoulder, particularly when he blocks. He said he receives a pain-killing shot in his left shoulder before every game.

"I'm fine during the game, but the next day it's really bad," Mauia said.

He said he believes he hyper-extended his right elbow. He cannot straighten it.

Sample began to work out yesterday, but then was ordered to the sidelines.

"It's sore, a little swollen" Sample said of his left hamstring. "I can't really go full speed. I'll be fine by Saturday."

Kafentzis, Keomaka and Soares ran on the hill adjacent to UH's grass practice field.

Kafentzis had not worked out in cleats since leaving after the second play of the Sept. 23 game against Boise State. He was using a medical boot until last week.

"The boot was killing me," Kafentzis said. "After a while, you're walking like a pirate. Your knee starts hurting. Your hips start hurting. I'm glad I'm out of the boot."

Kafentzis said he is optimistic he will be able to play this week. If he is healthy, he probably would start at left outside linebacker.

Asked to rate Kafentzis' chance of playing, defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said: "I don't know. I'm not a doctor. But I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.