Dolezel, Nash play through pain

Adam Candee

Thursday, May 12, 2005 | 9:24 a.m.

Just two of their four most important legs will be healthy, but the Gladiators are not content with those excuses heading into Saturday night's crucial game at Los Angeles.

Quarterback Clint Dolezel is battling a strained left foot suffered last week and offensive specialist Marcus Nash continues to struggle with a partially torn right hamstring that has been injured for close to a month. Despite the maladies, the duo combined for three touchdown passes in the Gladiators' 58-38 victory against Dallas at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Gladiators coach Ron James said Wednesday that both will definitely play against the Avengers. That is not surprising given the stakes of the game and the volatility of what is left to sort out in the final two weeks of a regular season in which Georgia is the only team in the league to have locked up a spot in the eight-team postseason.

Although they cannot earn a playoff berth with a win, the Gladiators (8-6) can be mathematically eliminated from postseason contention if they lose at the Staples Center. A loss against Los Angeles (9-5), combined with victories by San Jose (8-6), Chicago (8-6) and Colorado (9-5), would knock Las Vegas from the chase for a playoff spot.

A Gladiators win, however, would ensure that they would need only to defeat Arizona next week to clinch a playoff spot. In fact, if Las Vegas wins its final two games and San Jose loses either at Arizona (5-9) this week or against Georgia (10-4) next week, it could still win the Western Division title and earn a home playoff game.

With the right combination of breaks, the Gladiators could still have the best record in the American Conference, which would earn them home field advantage through to ArenaBowl XIX in Las Vegas.

"There's so many factors involved," James said.

Dolezel went through light reps at Wednesday's practice, while Nash sat out to rest his hamstring. James said that both will practice today and that he expects Dolezel to be "as good as gold" by Saturday. Dolezel, who once played an arena game on a broken leg, said that the injury affects him most as he pushes back from under center. He is listed as doubtful on the team's injury report to the league.

Nash said after last week's game that he is no more than 50 percent right now, but that he would have to be "dragged kicking and screaming" from the field to keep him out of the team's last two contests. He is listed as questionable.

Las Vegas will be without standout fullback/linebacker Frank Carter, who underwent successful surgery this week to repair a broken thumb. Carter could return as soon as next week.

Lineman Joe Burch and cornerback/receiver Dameon Porter are also likely out this week. James said that Burch, who is recovering from a severe knee sprain, does not have enough strength to return yet. Porter, who is practicing, has not received medical clearance to come back from a broken arm.