Canadian RJ Barrett close to return from injury as Raptors prepare for Wednesday's season opener

The Toronto Raptors are inching closer to being totally healthy, just days before their home opener.

Canadian swingman RJ Barrett was upgraded to day-to-day and engaged in non-contact practise on Monday, two days before Toronto hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena. Once Barrett is healthy, he will immediately slot into the Raptors' starting lineup.

"It's tough, especially for a team like us," said centre Jakob Poeltl, who missed the final 32 games of last season after he had surgery to repair his left pinky finger. "We haven't played together for very long, like the starters played a little bit together last year,

"We've got so many new faces, the more practice and games we can get in together, the better."

Barrett, from Mississauga, Ont., has been out with a sprained shoulder since the Raptors' first pre-season game on Oct. 6. Rookie combo guard Ja'Kobe Walter, who missed the entire pre-season, is also out with a sprained shoulder.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic said Walter also practised on Monday, but the 19th overall pick in last summer's NBA Draft is considered week-to-week.

Veteran forward Bruce Brown (arthroscopic knee surgery) was active on Monday, doing shooting drills with coaching staff at OVO Athletic Centre. Kelly Olynyk (back) of Kamloops, B.C., did not participate.

"It hurts us that we have a few guys out, but I'd rather have it happen now than during the regular season," said Poeltl. "So let's hope everybody stays healthy for the rest of the season."

Barrett's upgraded status came days after point guard Immanuel Quickley returned to Toronto's starting lineup on Friday in Brooklyn after he missed the first four pre-season games with a sprained thumb.

"We missed him out during the pre-season," said