The Orlando Magic don't lack for strength in numbers at power forward and center.

Who will be the starters at those positions and when the Magic's days of being outmuscled by other teams might be finally nearing an end are equal areas of uncertainty in training camp.

With both Horace Grant and Steven Hunter recovering from knee surgery, only Pat Garrity and Andrew DeClercq are left for now from the group of big men who were pushed around by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the playoffs. Shawn Kemp, Olumide Oyedeji and camp invitees Pat Burke, Peter Cornell, Obinna Ekezie and Jabari Smith have joined them in the battle at the University of North Florida for playing time and roster spots.

"They're killing each other, holding and grabbing and fouling. But that's good," coach Doc Rivers said. "And I do like the competition. You can see all (them) seeing themselves with a chance to start -- or, if not start, play."

Kemp, 32, was a six-time all-star before drug and weight problems turned him into damaged goods. In contrast, Oyedeji is only 21 and was signed by the Magic after impressing them during their rookie and free agent camp.

Oyedeji will never average 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, like Kemp once did. But as long as Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill can stay healthy, his responsibilities will primarily include blocking shots, knocking people down and running the floor.

"If I have a wide-open 15- or 10-foot jump shot, I'll take it," he said. "But I'm not here to score."

Garrity can score, as is evident by his 11.1-point average and 169 successful 3-point field goals last season. Rivers would prefer to use Garrity, who started 43 games at power forward a year ago, off the bench with Kemp, Mike Miller and Darrell Armstrong.

"The good thing is we've got guys to come in if, say, we're going up against a couple of big bruisers," Garrity said. "But I haven't changed how I'm playing at all."

DeClercq played a total of only nine minutes in two of the four games against the Hornets last April and has not shown much consistency in his two seasons with the Magic. With him scheduled to make almost $3.3 million this season and the team having the rights to his contract option for 2003-04, DeClercq needs to start producing.

"This is his time," Rivers said. "Either he's going to make it or he's not. This is an important year for Drew, and I think he understands that."

Oyedeji -- like Ekezie, a native of Nigeria -- and DeClercq worked with McGrady, Hill and Jacque Vaughn for much of the first day of practice. But Rivers will likely tinker with multiple combinations up front before Saturday night's intrasquad scrimmage and once the preseason begins Tuesday night at Atlanta.

"They're not just going to give it to me like that," Oyedeji said. "I've got to work hard every day."

Vaughn returned to practice after having taken a knee to his calf Wednesday. The Magic practiced just once Thursday but will return to two-a-day workouts today.