Pedro Azenha and Matt Bender own the two spots that do not require a substantial amount of passing. But the third outside position — primary passer/occasional attacker — usually is accompanied with a "vacant" sign.

After yesterday's two-hour practice in the Pyramid, Wilton announced that Matt Carere probably would start over JosŽ JosŽ Delgado and Lauri Hakala. Each has played this year — often in the same match.

"I believe they can do it," Wilton said. "It doesn't matter if I believe it, it's a matter of what they believe. I'm not sure they believe based on empirical evidence. But I do believe in them."

In most offenses, the opposite hitter — the position three rotation turns from the setter — hits mostly from the right side and is the most prolific attacker. To boost the left-front attack, Wilton reconfigured the offense, moving Azenha and Bender to the left side and turning the opposite position into a primary passer. Carere, Delgado and Hakala are skilled passers, but erratic attackers — a source of frustration for Wilton.

"The most important thing is to pass," Wilton said. "If we get them to put a ball away once every two weeks, that would be great, too."

Because the position does not receive a lot of sets, "you don't have as good a feel for (attacking)," Hakala said. "But that's not an excuse. Even if we produce (fewer) points, the hitting percentage should be high."

Carere said because none of the candidates has stood out, "it can hinder it sometimes because (practice) time is divided up so equally."

Hakala said: "There are chances out there. If we had one guy do an awesome job from one night to another, it would be easier. We need to find the guy. Of course, I want to be the guy. Matt wants to be the guy. Jose wants to be the guy. For the team, it's important that somebody plays well and not who plays well."

Setter Brian Beckwith also said he would prefer an established lineup. He said each opposite hitter has a different attack style.

"Hopefully, we can establish maybe a little residency with one person in that position so we can get into a groove," Beckwith said. "Until that happens, it's going to be tough. We're going to do our best. It takes some adjustment on both parts."

Beckwith apparently has recovered from a sprained right knee that forced him to sit out Monday's practice in Honolulu. The Warriors left Hawai'i early yesterday, arrived in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon, then drove to Long Beach for the practice.

"We had work to do," Wilton said. "After sitting for five hours (on the airplane), there had to be some energy."