Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Ben Roethlisberger should start tomorrow against the Raiders in Oakland. Click photo for larger image.

Barring some unforeseen circumstance or a change in his medical condition, Ben Roethlisberger will start at quarterback tomorrow against the Oakland Raiders, a week after he was knocked unconscious and had a concussion in Atlanta.

Roethlisberger went through a full practice for the second day in a row and has not had any problems passing all the tests necessary to receive medical clearance to play.

His condition will be monitored right up to game time to make sure there are no post-concussion symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness or blurred vision.

Roethlisberger is one of the primary reasons the team's passing game has come to life. In the past two games, he and Charlie Batch have combined to complete 41 of 55 passes (74.5 percent) for 677 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

Hamstrung

Nose tackle Casey Hampton (hamstring) did not practice all week and is not expected to play against the Raiders. Hampton was injured early in the third quarter in Atlanta.

"It depends how I feel," Hampton said. "I'm not going to hurt myself. I'd rather miss one [game] than four or five."

Hampton will be replaced by Chris Hoke, who started 10 games in 2004 when Hampton sustained a season-ending knee injury.

"I like to think we don't lose a lot," Hoke said.

"But, we all know Casey takes up guys, he clogs up the middle, and does a good job of playing nose tackle."

Meantime, outside linebacker Clark Haggans (ankle/questionable) returned to practice and will start at left outside linebacker. He will be joined by Joey Porter, who missed the past two games with a hamstring injury.

It's elementary, Holmes

Rookie wide receiver Santonio Holmes is becoming more involved in the offense, with nine catches for 171 yards in the past three games. Even more impressive is that Holmes, the team's No. 1 pick, hasn't dropped a pass since the preseason.

That's why it's surprising Holmes has three fumbles in the past two games on punt returns, though only one came when he tried to catch the ball.

"Game speed is different," Holmes said. "Sometimes you've just got to remember to hold onto the ball, regardless if someone touches you. We play this game for a living. You've got to hold onto the ball."

Holmes has been rotating every third series with Cedrick Wilson with the first-team offense, but he played the entire second half in Atlanta after Wilson's groin was injured. Holmes finished with five catches for 91 yards, including a 36-yarder near the end of the first half to set up the third touchdown.

After his fumbled punt return set up the Falcons' first touchdown, Holmes returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards and had one player to beat: kicker Michael Koenen. But Koenen managed to prevent a touchdown by lunging as he fell to the ground and getting a hand on Holmes' foot.

"The guys are teasing me a lot, not breaking those little, itty-bitty tackles," Holmes said. "But sometimes when you have a lot of things running through your mind at the time, it happens. You lose sight of what's in front of you. That kind of speaks to life. But I wasn't ready for the kicker. I was looking downfield and he was right there."

Coach Bill Cowher said he is not worried about Holmes' fumbles on punt returns and does not plan to replace him. Holmes ranks 10th in the AFC in punt returns (8.0-yard average) and 10th in the NFL in kick returns (24.9 average).

"He knows things happen and good players never let it get to them," Holmes said.

"They just come back and make a play the next time. If the quarterback throws an interception, he has to come back the next play and put it behind him and make plays. [Cowher] expects that out of everybody who touches the ball."

The word according to Dan

At least one former quarterback from the Pittsburgh area has not given up on the Steelers. Dan Marino said on this week's edition of HBO's "Inside the NFL" -- "The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-4 with five division games left. They are going to win that division."