EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – LaVar Arrington is looking for a couple of sacks heading into the New York Giants’ preseason finale Thursday against the New England Patriots.

Whether the linebacker who signed a $49 million contract in the offseason even gets a shot at Tom Brady or Matt Cassel during any of his 10 to 12 plays isn’t important. Having a goal in the meaningless game at Giants Stadium is the key for Arrington, instead of worrying about being hurt with the regular-season opener a little more than a week away.

“The minute you start thinking that way, you don’t get out of it healthy,” Arrington said. “You go play the game, play it the best you can play and go from there. If anybody goes out there with the mind frame, ‘Please don’t let me get hurt,’ then you are looking for it. Be careful with what you are looking for, you just might find it.

“I’m looking for sacks,” Arrington said. “Hopefully, I just might find it.”

Neither the Giants (3-0) nor the Patriots (2-1) are expected to play their starters for long, if at all.

New York’s starters will go 10-to-12 plays, coach Tom Coughlin said. New England’s Bill Belichick hasn’t said how much his group will play. He played only one starter in last year’s preseason finale between the two clubs.

Brady, who is 35-for-54 for 404 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the preseason, has not practiced much this week, so he may just watch. He threw for 231 yards and TD in a 41-0 win over Washington last week.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning struggled in a 13-7 win over the Jets last week.

“You prepare like it’s a normal game,” Manning said. “You want to go out there and play well and have that good taste in your mouth going into that first home game.”

Both defenses have played well this summer. New York has not given up a touchdown to an opposing offense since Baltimore scored on the opening possession of the preseason. New England had seven sacks and limited Washington to eight first downs in extending its streak to nine quarters without giving up a touchdown.

The defending NFC East champion Giants may get a look at veteran weakside linebacker Carlos Emmons. He has been sidelined with a pinched nerve in his neck since early in training camp.

“I don’t feel rusty at all,” Emmons said. “I have been playing long enough to play a game after missing three weeks.”

While offensive tackle Luke Petitgout (back) and center Shaun O’Hara (knee) returned to work on a limited basis this week, they may not play.

A former Giants defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells, Belichick should get another look at halfback Laurence Maroney. The Patriots’ first-round draft pick seems to be pushing Corey Dillon for the starting job.

Rookie placekicker Stephen Gostkowski, who beat out veteran Martin Gramatica after Adam Vinatieri joined Indianapolis as a free agent, will get his final tuneup. He is 6-for-6 on field goals and 9-for-9 on extra points in the preseason.

A deadline also is approaching for holdout receiver Deion Branch. The Patriots have given their best receiver until Friday to seek a trade and negotiate with another team.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

AP-ES-08-30-06 1237EDT