PHOENIX -- With a week remaining before the start of the regular season, many players in the Brewers' clubhouse at Maryvale Baseball Park are anxious to play games that count.

Other players are just anxious.

The 25-man roster won't be finalized until just before the deadline (3 p.m. Sunday), but the Brewers will make their decisions known at some point during the next three days.

"We're not going to take guys on the plane guessing if they made the team or not," manager Ned Yost said.

General manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash met with Yost and his coaches Sunday morning to discuss possible roster configurations and plans for the coming week. One thing that seems clear is that the Brewers will keep 12 pitchers and 13 position players.

"There's still some debate but the issues are getting clearer," Yost said. "We're not looking at spots, we're looking at players. Positionally, we're pretty set, but we're looking at bench spots. That's where we're looking. Who sits on the bench?"

"And you're still planning out, what do you do now, and what do you do 30 days from now when (outfielder Mike) Cameron comes back (from a 25-game suspension)? What do we do 15 days from now when (pitcher Yovani) Gallardo comes back (from a knee injury)? We're trying to get all our ducks in a row."

The Brewers have four Cactus League games left, then will play host to the Royals Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Miller Park. Melvin has said that he will not submit the roster until after the second game with the Royals because of the potential for injury.

Going into the final week, the race for roster spots centers on the backup catching position and the backup infield / outfield spots.

Eric Munson and Mike Rivera are vying for a spot behind starter Jason Kendall. Munson, a left-handed batter, could have the edge. Rivera is out of minor-league options, which means he could be claimed on waivers or refuse an assignment to Class AAA Nashville, where Vinny Rottino is expected to be the No. 1 catcher.

Veteran Craig Counsell's spot in the infield is safe, but Joe Dillon and Abraham Nunez are battling for a job. Dillon is the superior offensive player and can back up Prince Fielder at first base, but Nunez is a switch-hitter who is superior defensively and can play second, shortstop and third.

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