Miami ? Change of plans for Antoine Walker.

Dwyane Wade is returning to the Miami Heat tonight, following a one-game absence because of a flulike virus. That means Walker probably won’t be called on to take a season-high 26 shots. And no need for him to score a season-high 32 points and play 44 minutes, his most since Nov. 3 in the season’s second game.

But in Shaquille O’Neal’s eyes, Walker’s role will be different, not diminished. He calls Walker “the missing link” for the Heat, who hope the 10-year veteran from Kentucky will become an important piece of their postseason puzzle.

“If Antoine shoots it like he shot it the other night, we will win it,” O’Neal said. “Guaranteed.”

Walker was 13-for-26 in Tuesday’s 106-97 win over Toronto, setting the tone with 11 first-quarter points. The Heat were never seriously threatened despite missing Wade and his 27.5-point average.

He was a go-to guy for one night, the role he was most accustomed to in his first nine NBA seasons when he averaged 20 points or more five times. The challenge now is for Walker to find that rhythm when he’s not one of Miami’s primary scoring options.

“When the playoffs come, they’re going to try to shut down Shaq. They’re going to double-team and make things harder for him,” Walker said. “They’re going to make things harder for Dwyane. Myself and other guys, we need to step up and make plays. I can be effective in certain situations, even when Dwyane returns.”

Miami Heat forward Antoine Walker (8) gestures after making a three point shot against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 11, 2006, in Miami. Walker scored 32-points in the Heats 106-97 win over the Raptors.

Miami (51-27) can clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win Friday over Philadelphia (37-41), which has won three straight and is fighting with Chicago for the East’s final playoff berth. Small forward James Posey, who hasn’t played since March 29 because of a sore Achilles’ tendon, scrimmaged Thursday and is ready to return, Heat coach Pat Riley said.

One more Heat win or one more New Jersey loss would eliminate the Nets from contention for the No. 2 spot.

“That’s our objective, to win one more game,” Riley said. “Then we will change our routine.”

Riley said his eyes were opened by Walker’s performance Tuesday. The coach promises to keep him involved “with direct calls,” something that, if done right, would almost certainly relieve the workload of Wade and O’Neal on offense.

“He’d average 20 points a game if he was put in that role every night and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to try to put him in that role – now,” Riley said after Walker’s 32-point night. “You forget a little bit about how good he can be if he gets good opportunities.”

But Walker knows that solely doesn’t mean scoring.

After Miami traded for him last summer, Walker quickly realized his duties would be different with the Heat than they were in his other NBA stops – Boston, Dallas and Atlanta. He doesn’t mind that most every play runs through Wade and O’Neal, but does acknowledge that adjusting to life off the bench – he’s started only 15 games and is averaging a career-low 12 points this season – has been difficult.

“We have a lot of talented guys, so opportunities are not going to be there every night,” Walker said.