updated 8:55 p.m. ET Aug. 29, 2006

TEMPE, Ariz. - One more preseason game and Matt Leinart goes from playing to watching from the sideline as understudy to Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Kurt Warner.

Not since he was a freshman third-stringer behind Carson Palmer at USC has Leinart found himself out of a starting lineup. It’s a role he understands and readily accepts, though.

“It’s weird but it’s also fun,” Leinart said after Tuesday’s practice. “I’m a rookie. We’ve all got to make our strides in the league. We all start from the bottom, you know. I have a great quarterback in front of me, a great guy to learn from, so I’m not complaining about my situation one bit.”

Leinart probably will play the second and third quarters of the team’s final preseason game Thursday night against Denver at the Cardinals’ new stadium in Glendale, coach Dennis Green said. It will be the first time the home fans see the first-round draft pick being groomed as the team’s franchise quarterback of the future.

The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner was a holdout when the Cardinals opened the stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 12. He signed the following week, and after two days of training camp played extensively at New England.

Last week, at Chicago, Leinart completed 14 of 21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown and was not intercepted.

“Against New England, I was kind of thrown in the fire and just tried to make plays,” Leinart said, “but against Chicago I had more of a feel for what was going on, more of an understanding of the plays and all that kind of stuff. Really what it comes down to is just playing. Right when the ball’s snapped, you stop thinking and just play.”

Although Green has not officially chosen Leinart as the No. 2 quarterback ahead of John Navarre, there’s no doubt that is the case. Green has gushed about what he’s seen of Leinart’s play, which has included a few scrambles for first downs.

“There’s an impression that he’s not athletic, but he is athletic,” Green said. “He has good instincts of when to take it down and run. He has good speed, he’s light on his feet and then he’s a competitor. He’s very comfortable with how to go out and play the game. That you can see, that poise and ability to find the open guys and keep the chains moving.”

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Leinart praises the help he’s gotten from the 35-year-old Warner, a former NFL and Super Bowl MVP.

“Kurt’s been more than helpful, especially during the games on the sidelines,” Leinart said. “Just little things that I’m still learning. I’m still young. It’s a lot of information, but he’s done a great job of tutoring me along the way.”

Leinart knows the opportunity to play when it counts could come at any minute. Warner hasn’t made it through a full season uninjured since 2001.

If he does go on the field, his teammates already know what he can do.

“He doesn’t have to earn anybody’s respect,” wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. “We know what he’s capable of. He’s a great quarterback. He landed in a good place. He landed in an offense that has a lot of weapons, so when he does play, he doesn’t have to be perfect.”

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