SAN ANTONIO -- Pessimism morphed to optimism when the San Antonio Spurs returned from their eight-game road trip. Guard Manu Ginobili might be ready to return to action faster than originally anticipated.

Out since absorbing a knee to the groin on Feb. 3 that required testicular surgery, Ginobili took part Monday in San Antonio’s workout at the team facility. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Ginobili won’t participate in the club’s upcoming back-to-back set against Detroit and New Orleans, but the organization has been pleasantly surprised by the veteran’s progress.

Ginobili could be ready to return to the lineup by Saturday, when the Spurs host the Sacramento Kings.

“He’s going more quickly than we would have imagined,” Popovich said. “He’s not going to play in this back-to-back or anything. But his progress has been much quicker than we thought.”

San Antonio officially signed veteran guard Andre Miller on Sunday, and the team has also expressed interest in Miller’s former teammate Kevin Martin as potential insurance, should Ginobili’s recovery hit a snag. If the Spurs manage to land Martin, the addition of Miller and Ginobili’s return should leave the team rich in veteran experience for the stretch run and the playoffs.

During the portion of San Antonio’s workout open to the media, Ginobili ran around and worked through drills with assistant coaches without any noticeable discomfort.

Point guard Tony Parker said he was surprised by how well Ginobili moved during Monday’s practice.

“When I got back, I was surprised,” Parker said. “Everybody was saying like six weeks, maybe longer. Now, it looks like he can be back like next week. I don’t know what they’re going to decide. With Pop, you never know. He likes to be on the safe side. So we’ll see. But that’s great news. He’s looking good. He practiced with us today, and he was looking good.”

That’s in stark contrast to Popovich’s humorous remarks Saturday headed into the final contest of the rodeo road trip in Houston.

“[There’s] a little less pain each day,” he said, “but [it’s] a slow process. I think he’s just been able to walk out onto a court and shoot a ball very gingerly and carefully so it doesn’t bounce back at him. That would be bad.”