by MIKE HEIKA, Staff Writer mheika@dallasnews.com , THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

But when the Cowboys play the San Francisco 49ers tonight at Cowboys Stadium, they will go into their third preseason game with the thought that this will be the best chance for their top players to get ready for the Sept. 13 season opener.

"I think you really want your starters to peak the third preseason game and be playing well," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "That's what you would traditionally like. That's what we expect this week."

But can the Cowboys accomplish that with wide receiver Roy Williams out with a shoulder injury and wide receiver Sam Hurd missing three days of practice because of a quadriceps injury? And is the third preseason game really the one in which the timing comes together?

"I think every time I step on the practice field or in a game, whether it's preseason, regular season, anytime, I feel like it should be the same," quarterback Tony Romo said.

"I feel like we try and emulate it the same, try to practice at the same tempo. You try and play at the same tempo, so those things that you talk about mistake-wise, we're trying to eliminate, whether it's on the practice field, whether it's in a preseason game, whether it's in a regular-season game."

Romo showed that attitude during Thursday's practice. He was finding Williams on some timing routes and connected with all of his receivers in an offense that seems more balanced.

In fact, before Williams was injured in a collision with cornerback Orlando Scandrick, he looked to be in perfect synch with Romo.

The Cowboys also must adjust to playing in their new stadium.

"It means a lot for us, because we're getting used to it, too," tight end Jason Witten. "It's still just a preseason game, but it's another opportunity to get better. We have a long way to go, but it's starting to come together."

And while fans might want to concentrate on the offense's timing, the Cowboys' coaches are interested in seeing a solid game from the defense and special teams. With Justin Rogers' release this week, the top three special teams tacklers from last season are gone. The Cowboys will be testing a lot of inexperienced players in game action.

"There are guys that make mistakes, and you have to play them all to find out who can and who can't play," Phillips said.

"We have emphasis on a lot of things, and we're trying to keep in mind that the more we play them [younger players], the less mistakes we expect them to make. That's a part of making the Football team or contributing to the Football team."

But for the veterans, even a dress rehearsal means there's plenty of time before the season starts.

"You want to see where we are," linebacker Bradie James said. "It's a step, but it's really not a big step, because it's still the preseason, and we've still got some work to do."

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