RENTON, Wash. — Mike Holmgren's hopes of avoiding the second 1-5 start of his 17-year coaching career rest upon a backup quarterback who has a sore leg and will make his first start in two years.

Seattle's coach confirmed yesterday that Seneca Wallace will start tomorrow night at Tampa Bay (4-2).

This week's practices proved Wallace's 5-week-old calf injury has healed enough for him to replace Charlie Frye, the third-stringer who was skittish and ineffective in last week's loss to Green Bay.

"He looked OK. More importantly, he feels OK," a "relieved" Holmgren said of Wallace. "It's going to be his ballgame — unless something happens in the next two days."

With these Seahawks, the caveat is necessary.

Matt Hasselbeck will not even make today's trip to Florida. The three-time Pro Bowl passer is continuing core strengthening exercises in his back for a bulging disk, which is pressing on a nerve and weakening his hyperextended right knee. Hasselbeck is out indefinitely.

Wallace may be facing rust as well as pain in his calf. This will be his first start since Nov. 19, 2006; he went 2-2 while Hasselbeck missed four games that season with a knee injury. The Seahawks' fourth-round draft choice in 2003 didn't even play much this preseason because Holmgren wanted Frye to get a better grasp of the offense in game situations.

"It's different, being out a little bit," the soft-spoken, even-keeled Wallace said. "But I've been here a while."

Seattle has won seven of the eight meetings with Tampa Bay.