DETROIT ? The Pistons knew Shaq probably would be in their way again.

When Shaquille O’Neal was traded to Miami, the Pistons figured they likely would face the All-Star center in the Eastern Conference playoffs after beating him and the Los Angeles Lakers in last year’s NBA Finals.

“It’s going to be a battle royal,” Tayshaun Prince said after Detroit eliminated Indiana in the conference semifinals Thursday night. “This is where everybody wanted to be.”

O’Neal has been plagued for more than a month because of a bruised thigh and hasn’t played since Game 2 of Miami’s previous series against Washington. The Heat have been resting, and O’Neal has been trying to get healthier since May 14, when they swept the Wizards, following a sweep of New Jersey.

“I don’t really like that much rest,” said Chauncey Billups, last year’s NBA Finals MVP. “I like to just get it on.”

When the Heat play host to Detroit on Monday in Game 1 of the conference finals, the Pistons expect to see O’Neal looming near the basket.

“Shaq will be ready,” said Detroit’s center Ben Wallace, the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.

The Pistons have two Wallaces and two players off the bench to defend O’Neal, along with help from Larry Brown’s schemes. Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace will start on him, then Antonio McDyess and Elden Campbell, who fared well against O’Neal last June, will help out off the bench.

Days after the Lakers lost last year to Detroit, O’Neal demanded to be traded.

Other than his recent injury, O’Neal has flourished in Miami.