Kansas City, Mo. ? Butterflies could be aflutter in the stomachs of two nervous young quarterbacks here today.

Seneca Wallace will be making his first NFL start for Seattle, stepping in for injured Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck.

And Kansas City could be forced to go with rookie Brodie Croyle, who’s seen only mop-up duty in one game since being drafted last spring in the third round out of Alabama.

Croyle stepped up to the first unit Friday while Damon Huard, who’s been subbing for Trent Green, watched from the sideline because he tweaked his groin Thursday.

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said Huard could be a game-day decision.

“Brodie will be fine. The great thing for Brodie, if he has to play, is he’s playing at home,” Edwards said.

“The one thing I do know, he’s got a live arm. It comes out of his hand very, very fast. Our receivers better be ready. He can throw some smoke.”

Huard, who has played admirably the past five weeks while Trent Green recovers from head trauma, said he hoped to be ready.

“We’re just going to work through it and hopefully be ready to go (today),” he said.

Raw and unproven quarterbacks are actually becoming a familiar sight to the Chiefs. They’ve seen a procession of them all month.

Wallace, a fourth-year backup, will be the second quarterback in three weeks to make Kansas City the first NFL team he starts against.

And how has this collection of novice up-and-comers and unheralded backups fared against a savvy secondary that totals 147 interceptions and eight trips to the Pro Bowl?

So far this month, the Chiefs are 3-1, staying afloat while Green takes cautious baby steps in his return from a severe concussion.

The only proven quarterback they’ve faced this month, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, also happens to be the only one to whip them.

“But don’t kid yourself. They’re all good players,” said linebacker Kawika Mitchell.

Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law forced Matt Leinart, making his first NFL start, into a key fourth-quarter interception in a 23-20 Chiefs win.

Last week Philip Rivers, San Diego’s first-year starter, was forced into several costly mistakes in another three-point K.C. victory.

Now Wallace rolls into a stadium where the Chiefs have won 19 of their last 21 against first- or second-year starters in their initial appearance in Kansas City.

“To face so many inexperienced quarterbacks like this is unusual,” said safety Sammy Knight. “But you look around in a couple of years and those guys are going to be stars in the league. Plus, the coordinators are smart. You worry if they’re going to change their offense completely, or just slightly, or what.”

The Seahawks (4-2) are not only without their No. 1 quarterback, however. Running back Shaun Alexander, the 2005 league MVP, is recovering from a foot injury and figures to miss at least one more game. Wide receiver Bobby Engram was also expected to miss another week with a thyroid condition.

So the Chiefs will be catching the Seahawks in Hasselbeck’s first game out and Alexander’s last game out?

And they’re not lucky?

“Yeah, but don’t forget, that team went to the Super Bowl last year. That’s more than this team’s ever done,” Mitchell said.

Plus, if anybody knows not to disregard a backup quarterback, it’s the Chiefs. Since Green went down in the season opener, Huard has thrown seven touchdown passes, been intercepted only once, and compiled an impressive 96.8 rating.

“It’s going to be up to us to force (Wallace) into some bad mistakes, to force him into doing some things he doesn’t want to do,” said defensive end Jared Allen. “It’s going to be a challenge. He’s very athletic. Rest assured, we do not disrespect the guy.”

Nevertheless, confronting so many inexperienced quarterbacks this month has also taught the Chiefs a thing or two.

“Sometimes their eyes will tell you things,” Mitchell said with a sly grin. “Sometimes they’ll try to talk a little more and try to bring themselves back in the game. Rivers did that a little. You’ve just got to keep after them.”

At least Wallace will be returning to familiar turf. He starred at Iowa State and in 2002, in Arrowhead Stadium, came within a few inches of what might have been the greatest upset in school history.

Passing for 313 yards in the Eddie Robinson Classic, he rallied the Cyclones from a 24-0 deficit against No. 3 Florida State before being stopped at the goal line on a controversial tackle on the last play of a 38-31 loss.

“I’m real excited to be coming back to the Midwest and playing in Arrowhead,” he said. “It’s a big challenge. I’ve got to step up and meet the challenge.”

The Chiefs also figure if any coach knows quarterbacks, it’s Seattle’s Mike Holmgren.

“Seneca has been practicing in this offense since the beginning,” Holmgren said. “He does have good running skills, I think that’s fair to say. But I don’t think he can go into the game thinking he can play the game that way. I think he has to go into it thinking he’s the quarterback, he’s going to run the plays I call, and do the very best he can do. End of story.”