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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- What makes the Green Bay Packers think they can actually do anything in the playoffs after stumbling through a season overflowing with injuries and infractions, inconsistent production and inaccurate tosses?

	Receiver Robert Brooks is one of several offensive weapons the Packers expected to have back for their playoff opener.

The returns of Mark Chmura, Tyrone Davis, Robert Brooks, Corey Bradford, Vonnie Holliday and Craig Newsome, that's what.

All are expected to return to the lineup for Green Bay's wild-card playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at 3Com Park, and the Packers are pinning their playoff hopes on getting everybody well.

"I think it comes at the right time. We certainly need all our weapons in the playoffs," coach Mike Holmgren said Monday. "We've been kind of stringing this along a little bit, hoping that we would have them back. And it should give us a little shot in the arm."

The Packers (11-5) need all the help they can get.

Unlike the last two seasons, when they roared into the playoffs with a first-round bye, home-field advantage and a month's worth of momentum, this year's Packers aren't on a roll, get no time off and will have to hit the road, where they went just 4-4 this season.

The Packers managed a season-low 239 yards of offense in their lackluster 16-13 victory at Chicago on Sunday.

In the last six weeks, they've lost two division games, relinquished the NFC Central crown to Minnesota and won four games by a touchdown or less, including two against the Bears (4-12) and one against the Philadelphia Eagles (3-13), both of whom fired their coaches Monday.

But reinforcements expected back at practice this week include tight ends Chmura (calf), who was named a Pro Bowl starter for the first time, and Davis, who was a touchdown machine before pulling a hamstring three weeks ago.

Also, receivers Brooks and Bradford return from hamstring pulls to an offense that has had to rely too much on Brett Favre (23 interceptions) and Antonio Freeman, with halfback Dorsey Levens still working his way back after missing 10 weeks with leg injuries.

The defense, which has been unable to cover up its spotty pass coverage, should get cornerback Newsome (knee) and defensive end Holliday (ankle) back for the 49ers, whom the Packers have knocked out of the playoffs three years running.

"Hopefully, everybody will come back ready," defensive end Reggie White said.

The question is whether the offensive players can get integrated into the precision-based system fast enough.

"That's why this week's going to be an important week for us: to get back in the mix and get going," Chmura said.

Timing's less of a problem on defense.

"I think I can be effective," said Holliday, who has missed five weeks with a fractured fibula. "It's not like playing quarterback or wide receiver. You've just got to go out there and hit people, get to the quarterback."

Holmgren said he also needs to see sharper minds in the postseason, particularly from his younger players who have haven't played as smart as he had hoped.

"If we cannot become more disciplined and eliminate the dumb stuff, it's pretty tough to win in the playoffs," Holmgren said.

The Packers figure when they're healthy in mind and body, they've got just as good a shot at reaching the Super Bowl as anybody else, including Minnesota (15-1) and Atlanta (14-2).

"We have a healthy Levens, we got Brett Favre, Freeman. We're going to get Brooks back and Chmura," general manager Ron Wolf said. "Now, go ahead and play us."

Amen, said Favre.

"I don't know if we're a scary team, but I don't think anyone's going to take us lightly," he said.

Freeman said nobody should count out the Packers, who can become the first NFC team to reach three consecutive Super Bowls.

"We've got just as good a shot as anybody else in there," he said. "Once you get in the tournament, it's like the NCAA tournament, it's anybody's game. We could be Pepperdine this year and rise up to the top, who knows?"

Pepperdine?

"OK. NC State, Villanova."

You know, a long shot, a dark horse.