Jerry Stackhouse returns to the Dallas Mavericks lineup Friday night at Seattle ready to make a contribution, even it it?s a small one at first.

"I hope I can just turn it on," Stackhouse said with a laugh Thursday night before the Mavericks? game against the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena.

"Nah, I understand it?s a process getting back in the fold of what we?re doing. Being there and seeing it is still not the same as being on the floor."

Out the first 26 games of the National Basketball Association season nursing a sore right knee hasn?t been easy for the Mavericks? top scorer off the bench last season. The rehabilitation was frustrating at times, as swelling in the knee aborted a couple attempts to come back sooner.

Stackhouse estimated the knee is about "90 percent" and has responded well to practice the last two weeks. The next hurdle is to build up to playing shape.