The NFL preseason gets underway Saturday at the Trans World Dome with the Rams playing host to an improved Oakland Raiders squad. Head coach Mike Martz has been utilizing more game situations in his practices - such as having the offense and defense each take a sideline and call plays without the other side's knowledge. In creating a game-day atmosphere, Martz is conditioning the team to move at a faster pace and make quicker decisions.

STARTERS LIKELY TO REST: The team's key veterans probably won't see a lot of action this weekend - Warner, Faulk, Bruce & Co. likely won't see much action past the first quarter against the Raiders. Warner's arm has been "tight," according to Martz, but the coach said: "You treat him like a pitcher. There's nothing wrong with his shoulder...you try to be careful with the number of throws that you have. We did the same thing with Trent (Green) last year at this time." DE Grant Wistrom and DT D'Marco Farr have practiced this week but will not play Saturday.

AGUIAR, SPARKS INVITED: With P Rick Tuten nursing a strained muscle in his leg, the Rams signed P Louie Aguiar and gave him a tryout on Tuesday morning. A 10-year NFL veteran, Aguiar was thrilled to be back on any team, let alone a Super Bowl Champion. "This is great," said Aguiar. "I feel like a kid again...a 34-year-old rookie. It's awesome seeing all the guys I saw in January."

FARR, WISTROM RETURN: The Rams' defensive line is back together for the first time since the Super Bowl. DT D'Marco Farr practiced on Monday for the first time since arthroscopic surgery on his knee in June. "I'm ready to hit somebody," Farr said. But head coach Mike Martz doesn't plan to use Farr in "any big hitting," opting to leave him out of the upcoming Aug. 5 preseason tangle with the Oakland Raiders at the Trans World Dome. DE Grant Wistrom is back after offseason shoulder surgery, but he won't play against the Raiders, either. Wistrom wasted little time making himself noticed, however. In Monday afternoon's practice, he was involved in a lengthy shoving match with G Adam Timmerman.

ADDITIONAL INJURIES: KR/WR Tony Horne missed Tuesday morning's practice with tightness in his lower back...QB Trent Green and DE Sean Moran are resting sore knees...G Tom Nutten and RB Justin Watson are still out after suffering minor ankle injuries on Saturday...RB Trung Canidate will need 4-6 weeks to recover from a high ankle sprain...T Kaulana Noa might be placed on injured reserve after learning that it will take three months or more to recover from recent surgery on his wrist.

RELEASED: PK Jeff Hall and OL Antoine McNutt.

LATE NEWS: Late Wednesday, Aafter a dalliance with CB Phillippi Sparks, the Rams announced that Pro Bowl CB Todd Lyght had ended his holdout and agreed to report to camp. Early word is that Lyght agreed to the one-year 4 million dollar contract offer that had been on the table for the past several weeks. It is unlikely that Lyght will see action against the Raiders.