The St. Louis Cardinals could have their ace Adam Wainwright on the mound at some point this week as he's expected to take the next step in his rehab from an abdominal strain.

Wainwright, who was already on a delayed schedule following minor offseason surgery on his elbow, completed a successful three-inning game Monday and is eager to take the mound for the real thing.

"I think a real game is next, whenever that is, five days from now or six days; whenever they tell me to pitch is when I'll be pitching," Wainwright told Steve Dorsey of MLB.com.

Wainwright's status for Opening Day remains in question, but the 33-year-old and his manager Mike Matheny are encouraged by how things have gone during his rehab to date.