CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kevin Love was back on the practice floor Monday afternoon, going 5 on 0 with teammates in non-contact sets, but is unlikely to play in either of Cleveland's games this week.

While Love, who has been sidelined since the fourth game of the season, continues to make steady progress in his recovery from foot surgery, there's still a big step he needs to clear before making his comeback official.

"I don't anticipate it," head coach Larry Drew said when asked about Love's immediate availability following Monday's practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts. "We still want to get him involved with some contact to see how he does with that and see how he is the following day. Right now it's a step in the right direction, but he won't play tomorrow and chances are he won't play this week."

The biggest step for Love will come Thursday.

The Cavs are expected to have Wednesday off following their matchup against the Washington Wizards. Then they will hold a full-contact practice Thursday, two days before hosting the Dallas Mavericks. Thursday will be the first time Love takes contact since his surgery. How he handles that will go a long way in determining his official return date.

Following Saturday's game against Dallas, the Cavs won't play again until Tuesday night, when they host the Boston Celtics.

Love, who signed a massive four-year, $120 million contract extension this summer to become the face of the rebuild, originally suffered the injury in Cleveland's preseason opener. He fought through the pain in his big toe during the first four games of the regular season before ultimately shutting it down and opting for surgery.

In four games, Love is averaging 19.0 points and 13.5 rebounds.