Anthony Mason will probably start Tuesday against Utah.

Glenn Robinson may not.

Mason, has practiced just three times with the Bucks and isn't close to being in game shape. But coach George Karl said Sunday that he was leaning toward starting Mason because his bulk and defensive skills should give the Bucks favorable matchups from the outset Tuesday against Karl Malone and Thursday against Denver's Raef LaFrentz.

Robinson, the two-time all-star small forward, sat out a number of practices during training camp and played in just the last of eight exhibition games because of ankle soreness.

"I don't think he's ready to play a 35-minute game," Karl said. "We know he's got to work into that."

Karl raised the possibility that he may start Tim Thomas at small forward and bring Robinson off the bench for perhaps the first five or six games of the season. That would represent a significant departure for Robinson, who has started 495 of the 502 games he has played in seven seasons for the Bucks.