The availability of two of the University of Hawai'i football team's top defenders — left end Melila Purcell III and cornerback Kenny Patton — remains unclear for Saturday's regionally televised game against 22nd-ranked Fresno State.

Purcell missed the past two games because of a partially torn ligament in his left knee. He did not practice yesterday.

"It's a little sore," Purcell said. "It's hard to run on it. We'll see what happens this week. (The coaches) told me not to get my hopes up. I would say my status is 'maybe' — maybe I'll play this week."

Renolds Fruean, a converted nose tackle, has started in place of Purcell. But Fruean, who missed four games because of a sprained left ankle, appeared to tire easily in the Warriors' 45-38 victory over San Jose State the past Saturday. Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan and Karl Noa, whose pass rush forced the game-clinching interception, took turns as understudies.

Patton yesterday participated in several non-contact drills. "I'm going to work hard and see what happens," said Patton, who missed last week's game because of injuries to his right shoulder and left quadriceps.

Lamar Broadway, a converted free safety, replaced Patton.

"I was a little nervous," said Broadway, a fifth-year senior who had not played cornerback since 2001. "(Former All-America wideout Ashley) Lelie was running routes against me my freshman year. I had to remember the most important rules: be confident and be patient."

Broadway said he had four practices to re-learn the position. He said he knew he would do well as he prepared in the UH locker room.

"Usually, I yawn a lot before a game," he said. "That's my habit. People ask, 'Why are you sleepy?' I'm like, 'No, I'm getting into my zone.' I'll even talk to myself. It helps keep my mind right. Then when I go on the field, I let it go."

Broadway and Dane Porlas, a reserve safety who made the decisive interception, practiced with the first team yesterday.

"That's my rule," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. "If we win, we start everybody who finished the game. That's what we do."

HARDSHIP CASES

Running back Bryan Maneafaiga (severely pulled left hamstring) and defensive lineman Rocky Savaiigaea are expected to seek medical hardships. An injured player must wait until the end of the season to apply for the medically related redshirt year.

One of the requirements is an applicant cannot play in more than three of a team's first six games. Maneafaiga, a senior, has not played since the second game of the season.

What's more, Maneafaiga suffered from food poisoning last week. "I went to the hospital and everything," he said. "It's been a tough year."

Free safety Leonard Peters, the team's defensive captain, said he has not been cleared to practice, keeping alive the possibility the senior will apply for an exemption that will allow him to play next season. Peters suffered a knee injury in the season opener.

JERSEYS A BAD FIT

The Warriors are in a snit over jerseys that don't fit.

Television and radio commentators had complained about the difficulty in reading the numbers on the silver-and-white jerseys the Warriors wore in their first three road games, leading to a uniform change for last Saturday's game. But the Warriors complained that the new uniforms, featuring darkened numbers, were too baggy.

"We looked like a high school team," right tackle Dane Uperesa said.

Strongside linebacker Tanuvasa Moe said the manufacturers "must have thought we were giants. I thought I was out there playing in a nightgown. It was unbelievable."

Jones said he preferred the original road uniforms, which featured silver numbers on white jerseys. "Nothing was wrong with them," Jones said. "You media people couldn't see the numbers. I could see them perfectly fine, and so could our opponents, and so could the refs. That's all that matters. We responded to the press."

Jones said he also likes the style of the new uniforms, which cost UH about $10,000, but "we didn't know they were going to come three sizes bigger than they were supposed to be. ... It's very much a problem. If they don't get tapered by the next road game (Nov. 5 against Nevada), we'll wear our old ones."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.