The Pittsburgh Steelers have a feeling they can make the post season with their current form, but the status of their safety and leader on defense Troy Polamalu is uncertain as they prepare for their last game of the regular season on the road against the Miami Dolphins.

The Steelers, who looked dead and buried a couple of weeks ago after their loss to the Cleveland Browns, are still in the hunt for the postseason and a potential wild card berth in the AFC for the Super Bowl defending champions. Winning the AFC North is out of the question with the Cincinnati Bengals running away with the division, but heading into the postseason with a possible 9-7 record to finish the year could sneak them into the playoffs depending on what happens with other teams playing this Sunday and on Monday.

Though the Steelers have won their last two games, Polamalu, who has been out of the last six games due to his left knee injury, has been missed as the team’s coverage in the secondary was weak in certain weeks and his leadership role was not available when the Steelers lost at home to the Oakland Raiders and road games to the Baltimore Ravens and the Browns.

This week though Polamalu has been running, but in a straight line only. He has not attempted to make cuts, turns or even twists because no one is certain what might happen. He has to make those moves, because they are critical in a game and on Sunday against a 7-8 Miami, they will be important.

“(Monday) was a positive step,” coach Mike Tomlin said regarding Polamalu’s hope to get back on the field. “The door’s not closed on him participating. He’s just progressing, trying to get him ready, hopefully to play.”

Apart from running on the field, the five-time Pro Bowler is also in the swimming pool running as well. Tomlin expects his star safety to be limited in practice if he does participate. The hope is to have him play rather than aggravate the injury.

Though the safety had mentioned the Dolphins game as his potential return date, he also admitted that he would need a full week of practice to be able to play again.

If he is approved to play by the doctors, this would be Polamalu’s first game since Nov. 15, but because he has not shown that he can move without restraint on the injured left knee, it might be a difficult decision to clear him for Sunday’s all-important game.

“Yeah, no question,” Tomlin said. “The unanticipated movement that comes with playing football, changing direction, dropping your weight and so forth, will be critical in him getting clearance to play. Absolutely.”

There is also the element of rust. So far this regular season, Polamalu has only played three full games. He was instrumental in all three games because Pittsburgh won, but two ligament injuries in the same left knee is tough to recover from quickly in one season.

Polamalu would be needed on defense and only a win can push the Steelers into the postseason. They would need all his help on defense if they can get it.