Today the Razorbacks’ best of their best will scrimmage against each other more than they likely will again until next spring.

The 9 a. m. scrimmage, with voluntary church service available for players and coaches right afterwards, is Arkansas’ first of the spring and obviously the one with the longest injury recovery time for the Aug. 30 season opener at Reynolds Razorback Stadium against Western Illinois.

“ This is the time to do it, ” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said after the Razorbacks practiced twice in pads Saturday, outdoors in the morning and inside Walker Pavilion during the afternoon rain. “ This scrimmage is the time to go one against one. Maybe even the next scrimmage probably half and half, then after that you scout it up and go ones vs. twos. ”

This will be the scrimmage likely to edit the two-deep chart that mostly picked up where it left off in the spring though injuries, a couple of disciplinary suspensions and some precocious freshmen like wide receivers Jarius Wright of Warren and Joe Adams of Central Arkansas Christian (though Adams was injured and missed Saturday’s workouts ) already have created some changes.

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The scrimmage may also cause early-week editing of the playbook.

“ We’ll really look at depth, ” Petrino said. “ So it will be something where we’re evaluating the players and seeing who we can count on, and who we don’t think we can count on. And then we’ll get an idea of what we need to do from here. What are strengths are, what do we do well, what do we continue to work on, what do we throw out. ”

There was one significant change in Saturday’s afternoon workout though sophomore Wade Grayson of Harrison noted he’s seen that change before.

New coach Petrino and new offensive line coach Mike Summers had Grayson ahead of senior first-teamer Mitch Petrus at guard.

“ I guess the coaches were trying to make Petrus work a little harder, ” Grayson said. “ The coaches last year did the same thing and it worked for them. ”

Former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt and former offensive line coach Mike Markuson started Grayson over Petrus in a nonconference victory against Tennessee-Chattanooga then put an inspired Petrus right back ahead of Grayson to start the 2007 season’s final eight games.

However in ‘ 08 Grayson is counted on a lot more than just to push Petrus and DeMarcus Love, the other first-team guard.

“ We are going to have to use three guards throughout the season, ” Petrino said, and certainly Grayson is going to be one of them. ”

And he’s worked at backup center, too, along with freshman Seth Oxner of Monticello who also has worked at reserve guard.

“ Training camp, ” offensive line coach Mike Summers said of putting Grayson at first-team guard Saturday afternoon and also prepping him at center, “ is all about finding out what people can do. ”

Grayson has struggled some with the center snap but he and Oxner will “ continue to cross train, ” at center and guard, Summers said.

Summers wants to see what all his guys on all levels can do in this morning’s scrimmage.

“ I’m looking for effort, ” Summers said. “ I’m looking for passion and I’m looking for toughness. And every now and then I would like for them to block the right guy. ”

Removed by ambulance from Friday’s afternoon’s practice after being temporarily immobilized by a cervical spinal sprain, redshirt freshman reserve defensive tackle Brandon Lampkin was released from Washington Regional Medical in time to see his teammates Friday night and watched Saturday afternoon’s practice in street clothes.

“ Good news on Brandon, of course, ” Petrino said. “ I’m sure you all heard that. That’s a good thing. It was good for the players to see him last night when they came out of their meetings. That relieved a lot of stress on everybody. ”

Presumably, Lampkin will be idled at length before cleared to resumed practice.

Among the players injured and not expected to scrimmage today are tight end D. J. Williams, receiver Joe Adams and defensive end Jake Bequette, all injured in last Friday’s first day in pads, fullback Lance Thompson and running back Brandon Barnett and linebacker Wendel Davis.

Both Barnett and Davis still rehab from offseason knee surgeries. Senior wide receiver Rod Coleman of Camden returned after missing two practices with an injured hand.