Miami ? Shaquille O’Neal’s availability for the start of the Eastern Conference finals was shrouded in mystery Saturday, his bruised right thigh still a source of concern.

The Detroit Pistons aren’t believing the story, however.

O’Neal practiced Saturday with the Miami Heat, participating in 5-on-5, full-contact, full-court basketball for the first time in 11 days. He was held out of later portions of the workout, a move designed so that he wouldn’t overtax the sore muscle that has bothered him for five weeks.

Still, he was noncommittal about being ready for Monday’s Game 1 with the Pistons, saying he “hopefully” would be in the Heat starting lineup against the defending NBA champions.

“We just have to keep playing well,” said O’Neal, who hasn’t played since Game 2 of the East semis with Washington. “I don’t want this to be about me. I haven’t been out there for a couple of games, and the team has been playing well. If I play, we’re going to do the same thing. If I don’t, we’re going to do the same thing.”

Odds are that O’Neal will play Monday. The Heat will practice lightly today, and O’Neal is expected to participate again – unless he wakes up to find the injury has worsened.

Miami center Shaquille O'Neal, left, laughs during practice. O'Neal worked out with the team Saturday in Miami, but it is not known if he'll play in the team's Eastern Conference finals opener on Monday.

“We’ll anxiously await (today) and see how he feels,” Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said.

Meanwhile, the Pistons – who ended Shaq’s quest for a fourth NBA title last season, beating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games for the league championship – steadfastly believe the 7-foot-1, 327-pound force will be raring to go when the series opens.

“That’s what Shaq wants y’all to think, that he’s hurting,” Pistons forward Ben Wallace said. “Shaq is going to be ready to play. Don’t keep feeding into that. There’s nothing wrong with Shaq.”