At strong safety, Brandon McGowan started three of four preseason games, but he has been passed on the depth chart by Kevin Payne, who started once at strong safety and at free safety in the final preseason game, when Mike Brown was rested.

"We haven't necessarily locked it in," coach Lovie Smith said. "Around Wednesday or so we'll kind of come out with our starting lineup. Both guys will play a lot for us, I'll say that. Both will be on the field at some point."

A demotion for McGowan could cause a domino effect, with him replacing Danieal Manning at nickel back, although there's a chance that both could see time there vs. the Colts.

"It's the same situation," Smith said. "Daniel, Brandon and Kevin Payne are all good football players, and all will help us win this year."

Payne wouldn't confirm his promotion, but he didn't deny it.

"It's just exciting being able to go out there and play against the Colts," he said.

McGowan started nine games last season, but he wasn't overly impressive in the preseason, although nobody on defense was.

"Whatever position they need me to play, I'll play," McGowan said. "If they need me to play d-line, I'll play d-line."

On the offensive line, Josh Beekman started every preseason game at left guard in place of Terrence Metcalf and is expected to open vs. the Colts. Metcalf came to camp as the starter but had arthroscopic knee surgery before the first preseason game and didn't return to practice until Monday.

PLAYER NOTES

--DT Tommie Harris (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday but said he'd play Sunday.

--DE Mark Anderson (thumb) was limited in practice Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday.

--DT Dusty Dvoracek (calf) was not limited in practice Wednesday, but he is not expected to be full strength yet after missing three of four preseason games and playing sparingly in the game he did participate in.

--FS Mike Brown (knee) is expected to start Sunday although he missed the final preseason game.

--OG Dan Buenning practiced Wednesday after being acquired in a trade a day earlier, and he could eventually compete for a starting job at left guard.

GAME PLAN: The Bears believe they have an outstanding defense, but there was no evidence of that in the preseason, and they were facing offenses not nearly as explosive as that of the Colts. The Bears need to control the ball against Indy and win the time of possession battle. That means running the football, which coach Lovie Smith claims the Bears do when they get off the bus. They didn't do it very effectively last season, but rookie Matt Forte gives them a better chance to establish a running game than Cedric Benson did. And quarterback Kyle Orton appears to be a better game manager than Rex Grossman. Orton seems more content to move the chains and take what's there, and that's what the Bears will have to do to keep Peyton Manning off the field. Defensively the Bears must do a better job of getting off the field. The more snaps they have to play, the less effective they seem to become. It is a defense designed to play extremely fast, but it is not one that can win a war of attrition. They need to force more three-and-outs than they were able to do late in the preseason, when they allowed points on seven of their opponents' last nine possessions. The Bears' defensive line is a bit banged up, but they believe they can take advantage of the absence of Colts center Jeff Saturday by pressuring Manning up the middle.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Colts RE Dwight Freeney vs. Bears LT John St. Clair - Freeney has had double-digit sacks in four of the past six seasons. St. Clair is playing LT only because first-round pick Chris Williams, who was slated to start, is out after having back surgery for a herniated disc.

Bears DT Tommie Harris vs. Colts C Steve Justice: Harris was a Pro Bowl pick the past three seasons. He'll face a rookie who is filling in for injured Pro Bowl C Jeff Saturday. Harris had seven sacks in the first eight games last season.

Bears CB's Nate Vasher and Charles Tillman vs. Colts WR's Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne: Wayne had 104 catches for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns last season when Harrison missed most of the season.

INJURY IMPACT: Only rookie OT Chris Williams is expected to miss Sunday's game, although DE Mark Anderson and DT's Tommie Harris and Dusty Dvoracek may only play a limited number of snaps.