Nash will give quarterback Clint Dolezel yet another receiving threat in the playoffs.

IRVING, Texas - The Dallas Desperados won an AFL-record 15 games in the regular season. They are the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs and own home-field advantage throughout the National Conference. They also earned a first-round, playoff bye this past weekend.

And now, just when you thought things couldn't get any better for the Desperados, they do.

Marcus Nash is back.

Nash, one of the Desperados' most dangerous receivers, was injured May 26 in their 56-47 victory over the Columbus Destroyers. Nash was running a route across the middle of the field when a Columbus defender elbowed him in the hand, breaking one of his knuckles. The injury took him out of the game and kept him sidelined for the season's remaining four games.

But now, the 2004 AFL Offensive Player of the Year is back on the practice field, running routes and catching passes without any pain. Trainers and coaches have given him the OK to play in

Saturday's divisional-round playoff at American Airlines Center (7 p.m. CDT) against those same Columbus Destroyers, 56-55 first-round victors over Tampa Bay.

"They've been saying that I should just take it easy for now," Nash said. "I have to wear this pad, and they built pads into my glove so they will be protected. It's just a matter of trying to get my grip stronger, but it's feeling good."

Before the injury, Nash was in the middle of having another solid season. He had 77 catches for 1,080 yards and 20 touchdowns, giving him four consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving. He tied a single-game club record for touchdown receptions with six against the Utah Blaze on May 4. He is still second on the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions, despite missing the final four games of the season.

The bottom line:

Nash, at 6-4, 220 pounds, is a force to be reckoned with whenever he steps on the field.

But then so is this entire Desperados receiving corps. While Nash was out, Dallas still didn't miss a beat, winning its final four games of the season. A big reason for that was the play of the remaining healthy receivers - Willis Marshall, Will Pettis and rookie Andrae Thurman.

Bringing Nash back just gives Dallas another threat, not to mention a huge target, especially around the goal line.

"It's just another added weapon," Desperados head coach Will McClay said. "We need to figure out what we are going to do but it's playoff time. Any time you can add Marcus Nash to what we are doing, it's a great thing. We just need to figure out how to do that because guys have worked hard and we have a rhythm.

"But putting Marcus Nash back into our lineup just adds another thing for our opponent to worry about."

Having had this past week to rest and heal before playing that first playoff game has been huge, not only for Nash, but the entire team. This gave the Desperados three extra days of practice to prepare and plan an attack for their first playoff opponent. The bye also gave Nash's hand one more week to heal, giving him a better chance to prepare for Columbus.

"Absolutely," Nash said. "I'll be ready to go."