SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Garrison Hearst walked through practice with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday.

A 49ers spokesman said the coaching staff was being overly cautious with the running back, who did not practice on Wednesday.

He remains questionable for Sunday's wild-card playoff against Green Bay because of a mild pull in his right hamstring.

	Garrison Hearst set a 49ers single-season rushing record this year with 1,570 yards.

The 49ers expect Hearst to increase his work level on Friday and Saturday and be ready to start against the Packers.

Terry Kirby is taking the practice snaps in the absence of Hearst, who ran for 1,570 yards to set a team single-season rushing record.

Hearst was injured during last Sunday's 38-19 victory over the St. Louis Rams. He strained his hamstring in the first half and didn't return.

Although they are hopeful Hearst will be able to play, the 49ers are also prepared to go with Kirby, who rushed for a career-high 120 yards in a 38-22 win over Minnesota in last season's divisional playoff.

Hearst, who missed a month with a broken collarbone last season, returned for last January's NFC title game against the Packers but clearly wasn't himself and gained only 12 yards on eight carries in San Francisco's 23-10 loss.

Hot corner
San Francisco rookie R.W. McQuarters is on the spot.

He'll be lining up opposite Antonio Freeman, Green Bay's best receiver, in Sunday's wild-card playoff, and Packers coach Mike Holmgren said he expects to throw the ball in McQuarters' direction.

"I think you get a young person playing in that secondary you should, as offensive coordinator, make it a high priority to make sure he knows he's playing in a game," Holmgren said. "Regardless of how talented he is, he's seeing a lot of things for the first time.

"He's a good football player and a very good punt return man but we're going to try to make sure he gets tested a little bit."

McQuarters has started the last seven games at right cornerback in place of Marquez Pope, who has battled back and ankle problems for most of the season.

Pope played for the first time in a month as the nickle back in last week's win over St. Louis and coach Steve Mariucci left open the possibility that Pope might reclaim his starting spot from McQuarters.

McQuarters said he still believes he'll start Sunday.

"We've both been taking reps," McQuarters said. "At this point, I really don't know but as of now, I think I'm starting."

Some sympathy
Green Bay safety LeRoy Butler went out of his way to put in a good word for 49ers coach Steve Mariucci.

The two were on the same team for four years, when Mariucci worked as Green Bay's quarterbacks coach.

Despite his 28-6 record in two years as San Francisco's coach, Mariucci has gone 0-2 against the Packers and there's some speculation another loss to Green Bay could cost him his job.

Butler said it would be ridiculous for 49ers management to let him go.

"I love Mariucci. He's great," Butler said. "I'll tell you this though. It would be a bad, bad mistake for him to leave if they ever want to get to a Super Bowl, because that guy knows what it takes. If he leaves there, he can always get a job. He just needs time to get it done."

No sympathy
The Packers have won five straight from the 49ers, including ousting them from the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.

Green Bay safety LeRoy Butler was asked during a conference call whether he felt sorry for the 49ers.

"Feel sorry for them? Absolutely not. I want to end their season again," Butler said.