Trail Blazers' Nicolas Batum has doctor's permission to return but has to convince coach Nate McMillan

Nicolas Batum remains on pace to make his season debut Monday night when the Trail Blazers host the New Orleans Hornets.

“I will play Monday,” Batum said, smiling, before the Blazers defeated the Detroit Pistons Saturday in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Batum said he has received the OK to play from two key figures: the Los Angeles-based doctor who surgically repaired his right shoulder in October and Blazers trainer Jay Jensen. Now, it seems, Batum needs clearance from just one more person:

Coach Nate McMillan.

McMillan, who last week watched All-Star Brandon Roy return too soon from a strained right hamstring and has seen his players rack up 205 missed games because of injuries, is understandably gun shy. Before Saturday night’s game, McMillan called Batum’s return “doubtful," but said he planned to meet with Batum, Jensen and general manager Kevin Pritchard sometime Sunday to make a decision.

Batum has participated in just one full practice — Thursday in Boston — and he halted a two-on-two workout because his right shoulder became too sore after repeated contact. But Batum went through a rigorous full-contact workout with assistant coach Monty Williams during pregame shootaround in Auburn Hills and said he experienced no pain.

“He posted me up pretty hard, (banging) with my right shoulder,” Batum said. “And I don’t feel sore. I feel great.”

Batum, who started 76 games for the Blazers last season, finished the last month of the 2008-09 season and played all summer on the French National Team with shoulder pain. After aggravating the injury in training camp, he had surgery on Oct. 30 to repair a torn labrum. He has missed the entire season.

After seeing the doctor who performed his surgery in Los Angeles on Jan. 4, Batum targeted Monday as a return date and traveled with the team last week on its four-game trip in preparation. Now he just has to convince McMillan he’s ready.

“If he wants to let me to play, I’m ready to go,” Batum said, smirking. “If he doesn’t, he wants the best for me so I won’t be angry. But I’m ready.”