Fitzgerald has caught at least five passes in each of his eight games against the Seahawks and scored five touchdowns. Boldin has had 10-catch, 122-yard and seven-catch, 107-yard outings against the Seahawks.

But the Cardinals team that visits Qwest Field on Sunday - that leads the division by four games - also will be packing a very productive third set of hands: Steve Breaston, who has had three 100-yard receiving games this season, including a seven-catch, 121-yard performance against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

"I didn't know anything about him until I watched a little film Monday," said Jim Mora, the Seahawks secondary coach/head coach in waiting and not a candidate for the University of Washington job.

"Then it's, 'This (number) 15, he's pretty good.' Then you see what he did on Monday night and it's, 'Wow.' "

Make that wow, times three.

This six-handed monster that is on pace to become the fifth trio in NFL history to produce three 1,000-yard seasons will be the toughest test yet for a Seahawks pass defense that ranks 31st in the league and already has made lesser players look better than they really are.

"They are extremely, extremely talented," Mora said. "What a great challenge it is for us."

Stopping them - or perhaps containing them is a better option - starts with born-again quarterback Kurt Warner, who has the highest completion percentage (.706) and passer rating (106.4) in the league.

To slow down the NFL's second-ranked passing game, the Seahawks must be able to pressure Warner and / or disrupt the timing of the routes being run by his receivers.

"The defense has to be physical, because they are going to be physical," defensive coordinator John Marshall said.

That, of course, is easier said than done, especially with the way the Cardinals receivers and Seahawks defensive backs have been playing.

Boldin (league-high 10), Fitzgerald (six) and Breaston (one) have combined for 17 TD receptions. The Seahawks have allowed 14 TD passes - one fewer than their league-low total from last season.

"I have full confidence in those guys in every situation," Warner said this week. "There is never a question in my mind that all I have to do is put the ball where it needs to be and they will make a play."

He'll get no argument from Mora.

"If you watched the first part of the game Monday night, you saw where Kurt would just throw it up there and they'd just go get it," he said. "It's tough to match that."

Fitzgerald is listed at 6 feet 3, 220 pounds, but Mora wonders if he isn't actually taller and knows he plays bigger. Same thing for Boldin (6-1, 217) and Breaston (6-0, 189).

The Seahawks will counter with the cornerback trio of Marcus Trufant (5-11, 197), Josh Wilson (5-9, 192) and Kelly Jennings (5-11, 180).

"It's the land of the giants out there," Mora said, "and we're not the tallest crew in the league."

So how do the Seahawks counter everything the Cardinals are capable of throwing at them?

"Big or not big, we just have to go out there and take it to the guy," strong safety Deon Grant said.

"I know 'Quan is going to be playing physical. Fitzgerald, he's got the confidence. And 15, he's come on very well."

Boldin actually has come back very well, too. He missed two games after having surgery to insert eight plates and 40 screws on two facial fractures, the result of a vicious hit in the Week 4 game against the New York Jets . Since returning, Boldin has caught 22 passes and scored five touchdowns in the past three games.

"That doesn't surprise me. 'Quan is a beast," Grant said. "He's got the heart of a lion. 'Quan likes to get physical."

As do Fitzgerald and No. 15, er, Breaston.

"We can't pay attention to the names on the back of their jerseys," Grant said. "We just have to go out and play our game, regardless of what their size is."

HAWK TALK: Leading rusher Julius Jones (ill) and wide receiver Koren Robinson (knee) returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday. ... Fullback Leonard Weaver (ribs) did not practice again and is questionable for Sunday. Rookie Owen Schmitt replaced Weaver.\

HAWKS VS. Cardinals

WHEN/WHERE: Sunday, 1:05 p.m., Qwest Field

TV/RADIO: KCPQ/13; KIRO-AM/710\

FOCUS ON: Matt Hasselbeck

Matt Hasselbeck's official status for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals at Qwest Field won't be announced until Friday. But the Seahawks quarterback all but rendered that decision insignificant Thursday by letting his actions - and his offensive coordinator - speak for him.

Hasselbeck took all the snaps in the full-team portions of practice, after also practicing fully Wednesday - his first sessions with the team's offense since Oct. 3. He had spent the past five weeks rehabbing a situation where a bulging disc in his back was causing weakness in his right leg.

"It's wonderful to have him back," offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said. "And he did an excellent, excellent job of working to get back. He didn't just sit there and have heat packs on. ... It goes to him. He's ready."

Hasselbeck does not need to be cleared to play, a situation that was misinterpreted from something he said Wednesday about still having to meet with team doctors. One of the final steps in Hasselbeck's long road back was seeing how he responded Thursday to his first extensive action Wednesday.

"I woke up this morning feeling pretty good, too, so really it was everything I could have hoped for," Hasselbeck said during his radio show on KIRO-AM.

- Clare Farnsworth\ P-I reporter Clare Farnsworth can be reached at 206-448-8016 or clarefarnsworth@seattlepi.com Read his Seahawks blog at blog.seattlepi.com/Football.