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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Reggie White knows exactly how to make San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young 0-9 against the Green Bay Packers -- nail him just as they did two months ago.

	Steve Young hopes to get off and running against the Packers defense.

Young took a beating in San Francisco's 36-22 loss at Green Bay on Nov. 1. He was hit constantly and sacked a career-high nine times, leaving town with a strained abdominal muscle.

Can the Packers duplicate that performance when they visit 3Com Park for a wild-card playoff game Sunday?

"We have to," White said. "If we're going to succeed, the way we beat them is that we play well up front. If we don't play well up front, then we won't win."

White had three of the Packers' nine sacks of Young at Lambeau Field as the 49ers lost their fifth straight game to the Packers, including playoff defeats finishing San Francisco's past three seasons.

It was one of the bright spots in an up-and-down 11-5 season for the two-time defending NFC champs, plagued all year by injury and inconsistency.

"We dominated the line of scrimmage," said White, who led the NFC with 16 sacks in his farewell season. "And when you get that much pressure, you'll beat anybody. I don't care who the guy is. He can be the greatest quarterback in the world, if you sack him nine times and then hit him as he's throwing the ball away, then you can rattle any quarterback."

Defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur sent pass rushers from all over.

Strong safety LeRoy Butler had two sacks, including one on the Niners' first snap, linebacker Brian Williams had one and defensive ends Vonnie Holliday, Vaughn Booker and Keith McKenzie all sent Young to the turf, too.

"Everybody was just on that night," Holliday said.

Young wasn't helped any by an injury to center Chris Dalman, who tore a knee ligament that night, and the ineffective play of left tackle Jamie Brown.

Packers coach Mike Holmgren said he expects to see a much better pocket of protection surrounding Young this time.

Kirk Scrafford, who came out of retirement a week before the first meeting with the Packers, whn he saw spot duty in relief of Brown, has moved into the lineup at right tackle.

"So, obviously he's going to be in better shape, and he's a good football player. So, their offensive line in that respect will be stronger," Holmgren said.

"I think a couple of guys were injured in that offensive line the first time we played them, and I think they're a little more solidified there," Holmgren added. "They've run the ball so well this year with Garrison Hearst that it immediately helps your passing game because some of the pressure if off Steve Young."

And the Packers know the elusive Young won't stay put, either.

"Steve will move out of the pocket some," White said. "I don't think Mariucci will let him just sit back there, particularly if there is a lot of pressure."

Even with the Packers playing him so well last time, Young looped around McKenzie charging from the left side and ran into the end zone for his 41st career rushing touchdown, an NFL record for a quarterback.

The Packers are hoping for the return of Holliday, who fractured an ankle against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 22, and hasn't played since. He had eight sacks when he went down and was a leading candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

He tested the ankle at practice last week but said it was still shaky.

"Now it's feeling pretty good," Holliday said. "I'm very confident in playing on Sunday, and I should be out there."

The Packers also are hoping for the return of left cornerback Craig Newsome, who lacerated a knee against the Vikings and has missed three of the last five games.

His return would allow Shurmur to leave Darren Sharper at free safety and blitz Butler more, all of which would go a long way toward duplicating the Packers' defensive dominance of two months ago.