Quarterback Bryant Moniz said he is hopeful of playing in Hawai 'i's road game against Nevada on Saturday.

In his third consecutive start, Moniz suffered a concussion when he was struck on the head after being sacked in the first quarter of last Saturday's 54-9 loss to Boise State.

"I got a little dizzy," Moniz said. "I lost my balance, and stuff."

Moniz, who completed 5 of 11 passes for 40 yards, was replaced by Shane Austin. Moniz did not return to the game.

Instead, Moniz said, "I took a shower at halftime. I felt normal again. To be on the safe side, they held me out."

Moniz said he does not remember details of the play in which he was injured.

"I got hit pretty good," he said.

But he said he was told he was struck on the back of the helmet during a pile-up.

Austin has been the No. 2 quarterback since Greg Alexander suffered a season-ending knee injury against Louisiana Tech Sept. 30. Against Boise State, Austin completed 22 of 36 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. But he was intercepted three times, including once in the end zone.

"Shane stepped in and did as well as he could," offensive coordinator Ron Lee said.

Brent Rausch also might be cleared to participate in contact drills this week.

Rausch was the No. 2 quarterback before suffering a fracture in the right pinkie of his throwing hand two days before the Sept. 12 game against Washington State. He threw during passing drills last week. But he has not attempted a pass in a game since last season.

If Moniz and Rausch are not available to practice, the Warriors will give quarterback reps to running back Inoke Funaki.

Funaki, a fifth-year senior, was a quarterback before moving to running back in the spring. He has been used in the wildcat formation, in which the running back takes the direct snap.

"That's all we have (at quarterback)," Lee said, noting the Warriors do not want to use freshmen David Graves, Cayman Shutter or Corey Nielsen. Those three are redshirting this season.

After losing five in row — their longest winless streak since the 0-12 season in 1998 — the Warriors are 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Although they still have a mathematical chance to qualify for the Sheraton Hawai 'i Bowl — the requirement is a winning record during the 13-game regular season — the Warriors are not thinking long term.

"Pretty much every game is a pride game," Moniz said.

Moniz said UH's defense "stepped up" against Boise State.

"That's good for us," Moniz said. "Now we have to bring our game. When both sides are clicking, it'll be dangerous."