Step one in Shaquille O'Neal's return from a sprained right ankle begins tonight.

The center, who was injured in last Thursday's game against the Indiana Pacers when he landed on Ron Artest's left foot, will have his hard cast removed tonight and begin two-a-day rehabilitation sessions Friday. O'Neal will be reevaluated soon thereafter for a better estimate on how much more time he will miss.

The Heat originally said O'Neal will miss two to four weeks, but this is O'Neal's first ankle injury, so no one is sure how he'll respond to what is considered a fairly severe sprain.