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Madison — Joel Stave had to wait until the fifth game to return to the Wisconsin huddle this season.

It appears the redshirt junior quarterback from Whitnall High School won't have to wait nearly as long after that to make his first start of the season.

According to sources close to the team, Stave is set to return to the starting lineup when UW (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) hosts Illinois (3-3, 0-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday.

"That would be cool," Stave said early in the week when asked about the possibility of returning to the starting lineup. "It has been awhile. Those first four or five weeks... it took a long time.

"It would be exciting to get a chance to start again."

Tanner McEvoy started UW's first four games but was pulled late in the first half against Northwestern after completing 4 of 10 passes for 24 yards.

Stave took over with UW trailing, 10-0, and led UW to two touchdowns in the second half of the 20-14 loss. He completed 8 of 19 passes for 114 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. Only one of the interceptions involved a bad decision by Stave, however.

Coach Gary Andersen has declined to name a starter but said both Stave and McEvoy will play against the Illini.

Asked after practice Thursday about the Journal Sentinel report, Andersen noted offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig determines the starting quarterback.

"We're going into it thinking they're both going to play," Andersen said. "Just because one person takes the first snap does not mean they're ahead now. Let's not make this a bigger creature than it is."

Players were not available for interviews Thursday, but earlier this week Stave and McEvoy addressed the issue of remaining sharp in a two-quarterback system.

"It is different when you're not taking every snap," Stave said. "Maybe it is tougher to get into a rhythm.

"That being said, you've just got to be ready. When you're in there, make your reps count."

McEvoy has completed 55 of 96 passes for 629 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions. He has rushed 33 times for 284 yards (8.6-yard average) and two TDs.

"We understand the deal," McEvoy said of the staff's decision to use both quarterbacks. "We're competing and we're helping each other at the same time. We've just got to accept the challenge, go out there and execute and just push each other to make each other better and make the team better."

Ludwig, in his second season as UW's offensive coordinator, played two quarterbacks during his time at Utah (2005-'08).

"It's a real delicate balance," he said. "The most important thing is to stay within yourself and stay within the strength of the entire unit, not deviate to match one player or the other."

Ludwig will go into the game with a detailed plan but intends to be flexible.

"You're going to play the player with the hot hand," he said. "If the course of game, the course of the season dictates that, absolutely.

"We want to put our best players on the field."

Fans and analysts generally cringe when they hear a coach advocate using two quarterbacks.

Urban Meyer used two quarterbacks to lead Florida to the 2006 BCS title. Chris Leak, an effective passer, was the starter. Freshman Tim Tebow, a devastating runner, came in as a change of pace.

Ohio State used Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine in 1996. Jackson, the better runner, started. Germaine, the better passer, came off the bench, and that duo helped the Buckeyes win the 1997 Rose Bowl and finish 11-1.

"Whatever it takes to win I'm on board," McEvoy said. "It is a challenge to stay in rhythm if you're in for a series and you feel like you're starting to get the hang of it and the next guy goes in.

"You've just got to stay focused, stay loose and be ready when your number is called."

Stave is poised to hear his number called first, followed by McEvoy.

"I think we've got good players," Stave said. "I think me and Tanner can both do a lot of good things.

"If used correctly — I can't say how that is or how it's going to work — but I think we have the players who can make it work."