DENVER -- With the Denver Broncos set to play their starters at least a half Saturday night against the San Francisco 49ers, it likely will be the last game-day look at the regulars in the preseason since the Broncos are expected to hold the front-line players out of next week’s preseason finale.

So, a little W2W4 against the 49ers:

Find the rhythm: Quarterback Peyton Manning has shown in practice he fits the new offense the Broncos have constructed just fine. Manning has shown a live arm, good accuracy on the move and he’s taken some risks on the practice field, pushing the ball into coverage from time to time as he tries to learn what will work best. And there will always be growing pains when a team travels from one playbook to another, but the team’s offense just needs to put some drives together, show some aptitude in the new system and put the ball into the end zone. The Broncos do not have a rushing touchdown in two preseason games and the starters on offense have put together just one touchdown drive, albeit in limited duty.

The real deal: With linebacker Danny Trevathan set to play in his only game of the preseason, Saturday will be the first time the Broncos’ starting defense is on display. Linebacker Brandon Marshall, who had offseason foot surgery, played 16 snaps in last week’s game against the Houston Texans, and Trevathan, who had three separate left leg injuries last season including a dislocated kneecap, is slated to play about 20 plays Saturday against the 49ers. Marshall and Trevathan at the two inside linebacker spots means the Broncos would have the prospect of having all 11 projected starters in the lineup against the 49ers. The only question mark in the group is cornerback Chris Harris Jr., who was held out of Thursday’s practice with a sore hamstring. But coach Gary Kubiak said Thursday afternoon he thought Harris would play at least some against the 49ers.

Crowded backfield: Kubiak said C.J. Anderson was the No. 1 back long before the Broncos had even opened their offseason program, but Anderson has done his part in the passing weeks and months and is solidly the No. 1 with the regular season looming. But Ronnie Hillman, decisive in his running to the tune of a gaudy 7.5 yards per carry in two preseason games, is the No. 2. Montee Ball and Juwan Thompson are in the next tier, and Thompson holds a bit of an advantage in terms of who would eventually be active on game day in that Thompson can play both running back and fullback to go with a full slate of special teams work. Toss in the fact that the Broncos also have liked what they’ve seen from Jeremy Stewart and Kapri Bibbs and, other than linebacker, the group at running back just might be the most difficult to reduce over the next two weeks. All involved need to make the most of every carry.

Move some people: Newly signed Evan Mathis will not be in the lineup Saturday night, but the Broncos starters in the offensive front need to show a little more pop in short-yardage situations while the team’s backs need to move the pile a bit as well. The Broncos have faced six third-and-1 situations in two preseason games to go with two third-and-2 situations. In those eight plays, the Broncos have converted first downs just twice. That’s a lot of potential plays left on the table for the offense and they are just the kind of situations the Broncos wanted to address in the new offense. The Broncos consistently struggled up front last season, both in protecting Manning and creating room for their running backs. And if they are truly a more physical offense, which they've said they want to be, then those short-yardage situations are exactly the time for them to show it.