Indiana Pacers' Coach Jim O'Brien said he anticipates starting forward Jermaine O'Neal will be back in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

But a couple of things have to happen before O'Neal, who missed his second straight game with swelling in his left knee, returns. He has to be medically cleared and be ready to play at least at a 90 percent level. The Pacers will practice today.

"He has to be ready to practice," O'Brien said. "It's difficult to just play games and not practice. Jermaine knows how important he is to our team on the practice floor and also in games. He also knows why having this swelling in this leg makes it hard to practice; you almost can't. If you're not practicing, you're not really playing to your capabilities."

O'Neal, who has missed three games this season, said he didn't have an MRI on Friday because the swelling in his knee has subsided. He got ice therapy treatment during Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks.