Not only was Harpring ruled out of the Jazz's preseason opener Wednesday, the Jazz said he was now on a rehab protocol and would play in no games until further notice. It also was revealed that Harpring underwent left ankle surgery in September.

"I'm anxious to just get back on the court playing again, just playing full speed and banging and all that kind of stuff," Harpring said. "That's what I'm waiting for. It is a little frustrating because I thought I'd be better by now. But it's not there yet."

Harpring has twice undergone microfracture surgery on the knee, although the most recent surgery was to merely clean out scar tissue. He was limited to just one practice a day during training camp and was held out of contact drills at practice Monday and Tuesday.

The hope is that Harpring can play in a couple of games at the end of the preseason and be ready for opening night Oct. 30. Harpring acknowledged that there still is pain in the knee, which he hoped would decrease as he regains strength.

"You just can't start playing without going through what I guess I'm going through now," he said. "I pray and hope that I just keep getting better. That's all I can do. I'm doing everything I can physically to get back. It's frustrating because it's a lot slower than I thought."

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan felt good enough to joke with reporters about not having an injury update because he doesn't talk to the gruff Harpring. With injured players in the preseason, Sloan said he tried to "preserve 'em as long as you can."

"Matt, you're not going to worry about the work," Sloan added. "He's going to do the extra work to try to be ready to go, but when he can, and get on the floor with our players, and we'll wait and see there."

The Jazz had not disclosed Harpring's ankle surgery before Wednesday. Harpring underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur on Sept. 1.

STARTING FIVE

Sloan said he would start Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Millsap and Mehmet Okur for the first preseason game. That doesn't mean Brewer is the leader of the pack when it comes to the Jazz's starting shooting guard competition.

"Not necessarily," Sloan said. "We do think he's worked hard and he's improved himself. We'll see where he is. That's what it's all about, getting the opportunities and getting a chance to play."

Sloan flashed back to last season, when he gave Brewer and C.J. Miles the chance to start, and said, "Pretty soon people will figure you out and know what your strengths and weakness are." In Brewer's case, the biggest weakness was a lack of confidence in his shot.

One memory of Sloan's is watching Denver guard Brewer with a big man who stood under the basket, practically daring the rookie to shoot. After the game, Sloan told Brewer, "Does that send you a message somewhere that you've got to work on your shooting?"

"That's the pure, hard, cold facts of this business," Sloan said. "Regardless of how much you love the kid, how hard he works, there are certain things you've got to be able to do to play. He's shown that he's worked very hard to try to do that and that's the No. 1 step."

Brewer said: "Everybody's going to play anyway. It's not really who starts the game, it's who finishes it and if we get the win. Hopefully we can come out and get a good start, we all can play well, get us going, get our first win in preseason."

BOOZER UPDATE

Forward Carlos Boozer will not leave Thursday with the Jazz on their three-game preseason trip, said Kevin O'Connor, the team's executive director of basketball operations. "After that, I don't know," O'Connor added. "It's got to be his call."

Boozer has stayed home in Miami while his year-old son recovers from a bone-marrow transplant. He is now in the expected window for his return, but there might not be much benefit if Boozer were to meet up with the Jazz on the road.

Sloan said he wouldn't play Boozer in a game without letting him practice first. The Jazz will play five games in the next seven days beginning Friday, leaving little in the way of practice time.

"Let me tell you again: I'm not concerned about it," Sloan said. "You guys have asked me that question a hundred times. He has told me that he's worked very hard. I'll find that out in a day or two where he is. I'm sure he has because he's anxious to get back."

ETC.

Second-round draft pick Kyrylo Fesenko was feeling better after a bout with food poisoning and was expected to play. Fesenko went out for sushi with Kirilenko, who didn't get sick and was joking Wednesday about having a "steel" stomach.