PLAYER NOTES

--DTs Kevin and Pat Williams could be set to play the rest of the season after a federal judge extended his injunction against the NFL's four-game suspensions levied upon five players in the StarCaps case. A hearing may not take place for months now.

-- DE Jared Allen (knee) is listed as questionable, although he is expected to play against Arizona. "It's almost an impossible task," Allen said in reference to coach Brad Childress and the trainers potentially trying to convince him not to play. "But I have a lot of respect for those guys, so I do listen to their opinion. Sometimes you have to get an outside view."

--RT Artis Hicks did not practice again Friday because of an elbow injury that kept him out of the Nov. 30 game against Chicago. Hicks played the entire game at Detroit last Sunday but his status for this weekend's game at Arizona is listed as doubtful. If Hicks can't start, Ryan Cook will get the nod in his place.

--WR/KR Darius Reynaud did not practice again Friday because of a toe injury suffered on a kickoff return Sunday at Detroit and has been ruled out

--DE Brian Robison, who had arthroscopic knee surgery after the Vikings' victory over Chicago on Nov. 30, did limited work in practice this week and is listed as questionable.

--DT Ellis Wyms was absent from the beginning of practice for family reasons Thursday but he did arrive in time to take part in several drills.

-- QB Gus Frerotte (lower back) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game, meaning Tarvaris Jackson is likely to start. Coach Brad Childress said Frerotte is improving, but "it's not a leaps and bounds thing."

GAME PLAN: The Vikings' pass defense is going to get a big-time test in this game.

Ranked at the bottom of the NFL the past two seasons, the Vikings have moved up to 20th (217.7 yards per game) in part because of a far-more effective pass rush led by Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen.

But the Cardinals have one of the best aerial games in the NFL. Arizona is ranked second in the league in passing offense, averaging 300 yards per game and has several weapons that can burn defenses.

Quarterback Kurt Warner's options include Larry Fitzergald (83 receptions), Anquan Boldin (83) and Steve Breaston (67). The Cardinals are likely to force the Vikings to have their nickel package on the field quite a bit, meaning cornerback Benny Sapp could end up playing a key role.

Arizona is last in the league in rushing, averaging only 75.4 yards per game, but considering the Vikings have one of the NFL's best run-stopping defenses, their ground game wouldn't stand to be much of a factor even if it was ranked in the middle of the pack.

On offense, the Vikings are likely to try to establish their run game with Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson. The Cardinals are 12th in the NFL in rushing defense (96.5 yards per game), but this isn't likely to deter Minnesota from staying on the ground.

This is especially true considering the fact quarterback Gus Frerotte will either try to play through a lower-back injury or be replaced by backup Tarvaris Jackson.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Vikings CB Cedric Griffin vs. Cardinals WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin -- Although Griffin has played better in recent weeks, he did give up a 70-yard touchdown pass last Sunday to the Lions' Calvin Johnson. There is no doubt the Cardinals saw this on film and likely will attempt to go deep to either Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin. The preference almost certainly will be to go at Griffin, who is the right cornerback. Griffin isn't in the same class as veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield. The Cardinals also could try to get matchups with the slot receiver against nickel back Benny Sapp.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson vs. Cardinals run defense: Peterson is likely to get the ball early and often in this game and, as usual, he will be a point of emphasis for a Cardinals defense that is likely to put eight-men in the box throughout the afternoon. Among those playing a key role in trying to stop Peterson will be middle linebacker Gerald Hayes, who has 72 tackles in 13 games this season. Peterson, who regularly takes a pounding, also will be running into (and he hopes away from) a tackle tandem of Gabe Watson and Darnell Dockett.

INJURY IMPACT: Coach Brad Childress isn't likely to tip his hand before game day about whether Gus Frerotte or Tarvaris Jackson will start at quarterback. Childress said Frerotte will remain the starter if his lower-back injury is healed enough for him to play, but that likely will be the call of the team and not the player. Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen has been playing with a shoulder injury and now will try to continue playing despite a knee injury suffered Sunday at Detroit. The ailments haven't slowed Allen very much to date. He is tied for fourth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks.