IMHO, Yao Ming will not start. I may be wrong on this, but I recall that over the past couple preseasons against the Rockets, Popovich has played his regulars much, much more at the AlamoDome. Regardless of who starts, I would expect the success of individual matchups to determne who gets the PT. For example, Duncan, Rose, and Bowen require a different response than Robinson, Duncan, and Ferry.
Rice has the flu. I think it will be interesting to see if Boki starts. With Rice KT and Tmo out you would think it's logical.
he should of gotten a flu shot... oh well. better now in the pre-season. more time for new guys to play.