PHOENIX -- With a week remaining before the start of the regular season, many players in the Brewers' clubhouse at Maryvale Baseball Park are anxious to play games that count.

Other players are just anxious.

The 25-man roster won't be finalized until just before the deadline (3 p.m. Sunday), but the Brewers will make their decisions known at some point during the next three days.

"We're not going to take guys on the plane guessing if they made the team or not," manager Ned Yost said.

General manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash met with Yost and his coaches Sunday morning to discuss possible roster configurations and plans for the coming week. One thing that seems clear is that the Brewers will keep 12 pitchers and 13 position players.

"There's still some debate but the issues are getting clearer," Yost said. "We're not looking at spots, we're looking at players. Positionally, we're pretty set, but we're looking at bench spots. That's where we're looking. Who sits on the bench?"

"And you're still planning out, what do you do now, and what do you do 30 days from now when (outfielder Mike) Cameron comes back (from a 25-game suspension)? What do we do 15 days from now when (pitcher Yovani) Gallardo comes back (from a knee injury)? We're trying to get all our ducks in a row."

The Brewers have four Cactus League games left, then will play host to the Royals Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Miller Park. Melvin has said that he will not submit the roster until after the second game with the Royals because of the potential for injury.

Going into the final week, the race for roster spots centers on the backup catching position and the backup infield / outfield spots.

Eric Munson and Mike Rivera are vying for a spot behind starter Jason Kendall. Munson, a left-handed batter, could have the edge. Rivera is out of minor-league options, which means he could be claimed on waivers or refuse an assignment to Class AAA Nashville, where Vinny Rottino is expected to be the No. 1 catcher.

Veteran Craig Counsell's spot in the infield is safe, but Joe Dillon and Abraham Nunez are battling for a job. Dillon is the superior offensive player and can back up Prince Fielder at first base, but Nunez is a switch-hitter who is superior defensively and can play second, shortstop and third.

"Dillon gives you a good at-bat against a right- or a left-handed pitcher and he's multi-positional," Yost said. "He'll give you a great at-bat every time he steps in the box. That's all you can ask for, and it's really hard to do."

The starting rotation seems almost set. Ben Sheets will start opening day March 31 in Chicago. Jeff Suppan will start the second game. It appears that Manny Parra will win the No. 3 spot and that Dave Bush and Claudio Vargas will round out the rotation. As the No. 4 starter, Bush would get the plum assignment of pitching the home opener vs. San Francisco on April 4 at Miller Park.

Six of the seven jobs in the bullpen appear set: Eric Gagne, Derrick Turnbow, Guillermo Mota, David Riske, Salomon Torres and Brian Shouse have spots locked up and Seth McClung has an inside track for the final spot.

Carlos Villanueva would open as the top starter with Nashville and be ready for promotion in case of an injury.

The outfield appears set: Ryan Braun will start in left field and Corey Hart in right. Tony Gwynn, Jr., likely will start in center field until Cameron's suspension is over. Gabe Gross and Gabe Kapler appear to be locks for the backup jobs.

Things will change, however, when Gallardo and Cameron return.

"This is just the first round of difficult moves," Yost said.

BREWERS PROJECTED OPENING DAY ROSTER

STARTING PITCHERS (5)
Ben Sheets
Jeff Suppan
Manny Parra
Dave Bush
Claudio Vargas

RELIEF PITCHERS (7)
Eric Gagne
Seth McClung
Guillermo Mota
David Riske
Brian Shouse
Salomon Torres
Derrick Turnbow

CATCHERS (2)
Jason Kendall
Eric Munson

INFIELD (6)
Craig Counsell
Joe Dillon
Prince Fielder
Bill Hall
J.J. Hardy
Rickie Weeks

OUTFIELD (5)
Ryan Braun
Corey Hart
Gabe Gross
Tony Gwynn, Jr.
Gabe Kapler