BATON ROUGE (AP) — LSU star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, leading rusher Spencer Ware and defensive back Tharold Simon returned to practice on Tuesday for the first time since being suspended a week ago for violating the team’s drug policy.

The three were barred from Tiger Stadium for No. 1 LSU’s 45-10 victory over Auburn last weekend, but coach Les Miles said they should be on the field when the unbeaten Tigers visit second-ranked Alabama on Nov. 5 in what has become one of the most anticipated games of the college football season.

“We’re practicing, preparing them to play and operating along that way,” Miles said. “We’re going to plan on using them.”

Both teams have this weekend off, giving them two weeks to prepare for an unusual regular-season showdown between the two highest ranked teams in the nation. The matchup between LSU (8-0, 5-0 SEC) and Alabama (8-0, 5-0) also is an annual rivalry game, and this season, first place in the SEC West is on the line, not to mention the inside lane to the BCS national championship game in New Orleans.

Mathieu has been one of the stars of the first half of the college football season. He has forced four fumbles, recovering three and returning two for scores. He also has two interceptions and ranks third on the team with 42 tackles, including five tackles for losses and 1 1/2 sacks.