NEW YORK -- The captain is ready to test his twice broken ankle. Derek Jeter will start a rehabilitation assignment Saturday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the first step toward returning to the New York Yankees. He is scheduled to play at least five innings at shortstop. Whether he will be able to don his pinstripes before the All-Star break is to be seen. "I think he has to feel comfortable playing," manager Joe Girardi said Friday. "He really hasnt had a whole lot of at-bats. He has not played a whole lot of infield. So (we need to see him) being able to go back-to-back days, back-to-back-to-back days that sort of thing." Jeter joins third baseman Alex Rodriguez in the minor leagues. Jeter is starting with the Yankees top minor league club because he appears to be further along than A-Rod, who has played two games for Class A Charleston and is is hitless in his first four at-bats. Rodriguezs game Friday with the Tampa Yankees, a high-A club, was postponed by rain. He has said he thinks he will need the full 20 days allowed for a rehab assignment to prepare to play after having left hip surgery in January. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman would not commit to seeing either player back before the break that begins July 15. "Those guys will be ready when theyre ready," Cashman said. "Thats it." Jeter broke his ankle in the opener of the AL championship series on Oct. 13 and had surgery soon after. The player who rarely concedes hes injured vowed to return for opening day but he only played five spring training games because of soreness in the foot. A new break was discovered on April 18. On Friday at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Jeter took six simulated at-bats against minor league pitchers and ran the bases after putting the ball in play. He also did one of his signature jump throws to first after fielding a grounder in the hole during defensive drills. Five players have started at shortstop in Jeters absence, and Robinson Cano is looking forward to some stability there with the return of the 13-time All-Star. "We all know what kind of guy he is and what energy he brings to the team," Cano said. "Not only that -- also young players to myself the way he gives good advice, and everybody just looks to him. Thats all we want. We want our guy here and hes our shortstop." The Yankees infielder who might be closest to a return is Eduardo Nunez. He started 26 games at shortstop before going out with a left oblique strain June 6. Nunez played for Double-A Trenton on Thursday and was 0 for 5. In five rehab games, he is 3 for 13 with two runs and two stolen bases. "Hes played this year and hes has spring training," Girardi said, comparing Nunez to Jeter and Rodriguez. Also, Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda said his hip flexor feels OK and that he was cleared to throw a bullpen session Friday. Black Swell Bottle Nz . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. SWell Marble Bottle Nz . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. http://www.swellbottlesnz.com/ . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. sWell Bottle Stockists .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Swell Bottle Black . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. NEW YORK -- Little had gone right for the Temple Owls before they gathered around coach Fran Dunphy during a timeout. It would have been easy for them to lament their woes.Instead, as Shizz Alston Jr. recalled, their message to each other was cloaked in defiance.Were on a big stage, were not going out like this, Alston said after Temples 89-86 victory over No. 25 Florida State on Thursday in the first game of the NIT Season Tip-Off. We want to fight back.Quinton Rose scored 26 points, including two free throws with 2 seconds left. Alston Jr. added 22 points and Obi Enechionyia had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Owls (3-2).Dwayne Bacon had 22 points for the Seminoles (4-1). Jonathan Issac added 19 points. Xavier Rathan-Mayes had 11, and Terance Mann 10.Theyre so deep, Dunphy said about Florida State. So athletic. They can make shots, too.Trailing by 12 with 9:26 left, Temple went on a 15-2 run to take a 73-72 lead. The stretch began when Alston made a 3. That was followed by Roses putback, Enechionyias lay-in, two made free throws by Alston, and consecutive 3s from Alston and Damion Moore.The Owls were able to extend their advantage to 85-80 after Enechionyias made 3 with 3:18 left. But Trent Forrests lay-in with 77 seconds cut the deficit to one, 87-86.They spread the floor, Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said of Temples offensive approach in the second half. They were shooting the 3s and they spread the floor, did a great job of taking us off the dribble when they got to the foul line.Give them credit: They did what they had to do.Florida State had a chance to win, but Isaac air-balled a layup attempt with four seconds left. Roses two free throws sealed the win.We started making every shot we took, Dunphy said.BIG PICTURE:Temple: Coming off a berth in the NCAA Tournament, the Owls are looking for a repeat trip and a win over a Top 25 team is good for the resume. The biggest issue for Temple, though, will be its ability to defend well and, as Shizz Alston Jr. said, can the Owls win games comfortably?Florida State: Following five wins against lessser competition, Florida State took a step up in weight class and was fairly impressive for 30 minutes.dddddddddddd However, college basketball games last 40. The Seminoles vaunted defense was broken down repeatedly by Temples guards and, as Leonard Hamilton noted, his team will get its fill of strong opposition once ACC play begins.POLL IMPLICATIONS:Temple: Despite the win, it is unlikely that the Owls will move into the Top 25. Temple had dropped close decisions to New Hampshire and UMass in its second and third games of the season.Florida State: During his postgame press conference, Leonard Hamilton stressed one game does not determine the outcome of a season. But it may -- and likely will -- cost the Seminoles their No. 25 ranking.NOTABLETemple: The National Invitation Tournament Tip-Off marks the sixth time in program history that the Owls participated in the early season event. Temples six appearances are tied with St. Johns for second most in tournament history; Arizona and Duke have made seven appearances apiece.Florida State: The first of two NIT Tip-Off games marked the first time since the third round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament that the Seminoles were a nationally ranked team. Following a 62-56 loss to Cincinnati in the third round, the Seminoles finished the season ranked 10th in the nation.QUOTABLEI think you can come up with a philosophical theory if you want to, but they just had a great night. They did a very good job. Im sure theyre hoping they shoot the ball that well for the remainder of the year. Im hoping we dont defend as poorly as we did tonight and I dont think we will, Florida States Leonard Hamilton, in response to a question regarding his concern about the Seminoles defense.UP NEXTTemple: Will meet West Virginia in championship game Friday.Florida State: Will meet Illinois in the consolation game Friday.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '