Pitt backup point guard Sidy N’Dir could return from his leg injury Saturday at N.C. State, slightly ahead of schedule.

The original thought was that N’Dir, a graduate senior, would be out four to six weeks, but he’s missed just four games, starting with the New Orleans contest Dec. 20.

Coach Jeff Capel said N’Dir practiced Friday before the team left for its flight to Raleigh, N.C.

“He was able to get through the whole practice to do some things,” Capel said. “He looked good. He moved well. We’ll have to see about the pain now to evaluate him (Friday) night.

“But it looks like he could be available, as long as there are no setbacks from practice. Obviously, he’s rusty and not in the condition that you need to be. So, if he is able to play, it would be in spurts.”

Using N’Dir on a limited basis would help because it would give Pitt a fourth player off the bench in Capel’s rotation. Starting point guard Xavier Johnson has averaged 32 minutes in the four games N’Dir has been unavailable.

“It gives us another ball-handler, a guy who can create, a guy who has some experience,” Capel said.

N’Dir, a 6-foot-3 transfer from New Mexico State, averaged three assists over the six games immediately before his injury. For the season, he is averaging 5.5 points per game and is third on the team with seven blocked shots.

Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.

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