How much the expected return of tailback Darren Davis will affect Iowa State’s offense is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain — his planned comeback has caught the attention of Missouri Head Coach Larry Smith.

Iowa State and Missouri play a Big 12 Conference game on Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., at 1 p.m. Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney said on Thursday that Davis will definitely play in Saturday’s game.

Smith mentioned Davis’ return in his weekly press conference.

Davis has carried the ball only one time after the first game of the season against Oklahoma State. Since then, he has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his lower right leg.

Smith said ISU will run the ball more with Davis in the lineup. The Cyclones have only amassed 132 rushing yards in an 0-4 start, while passing for 1,159 yards.

“I expect (ISU) to come in here with a balanced (offensive) game plan,” Smith said. “I expect them to come in here and try to both run and throw the ball. If they find they can’t run, then they’ll just throw, throw, throw.”

Davis confirmed his health at Iowa State’s press conference on Tuesday.

“Right now I’m healthy and ready to go,” he said.

However, McCarney did express some concerns about Davis’ playing condition.

“He’s not in real, real top game shape right now because he hasn’t played in a full game yet,” he said. “That’s something we’re concerned about.”

Davis did get into ISU’s last game on Sept. 20 against Iowa. He turned what could have been a negative carry into a 14-yard gain in his only rushing attempt during the Cyclones’ 63-20 loss.

Davis was not expected to play against the Hawkeyes, but took matters into his own hands.

“Basically, I wasn’t supposed to play, and I just jumped in the lineup,” Davis said. “It got everybody mad at me, but it was good when I was in there.”

Darren said he has relied on the guidance of his older brother Troy to get him through the difficulties of having to sit out with various injuries this season.

Troy is a running back for the New Orleans Saints this season.

“I talk to him everyday. He tells me ‘keep my head up,’ he says this is life, everybody goes through it,” Darren said.

Missouri led Ohio State, 10-7, late in the second quarter last Saturday, before the Buckeyes came back for a 31-10 victory. Ohio State is ranked No. 7 by the Associated Press.

The Tigers rushed for 226 yards against Ohio State. Brock Olivo became Missouri’s career leader against Ohio State by piling up 44 yards on 10 carries. Olivo has rushed for 2,616 yards during his career.

Quarterback Corby Jones led Missouri with 95 rushing yards against Ohio State, earning the praise of McCarney.

“Corby Jones runs the option about as well as anyone in college football,” McCarney said.

ISU has not won a road game since beating Missouri, 23-22, on November 2, 1991. However, McCarney said the road-loss streak is not something discussed by his team.

“We don’t talk about it, we don’t address it,” McCarney said. “The most important thing right now is we keep improving as a football team.”