ALLEN PARK (AP) — Rod Marinelli is caught in a classic dilemma.

The Detroit Lions head coach still has several items left on his exhibition-season checklist, but he doesn’t want to risk getting his players hurt in the final preseason game.

‘‘It’s tough,’’ Marinelli said Tuesday. ‘‘We have things that we want to work on, but we also have to be smart about protecting our players. We’re going to need them for the opener.’’

That’s why a significant number of Detroit’s starters will not play Thursday in Buffalo.

‘‘There will be a few that sit,’’ he said. ‘‘You have to be smart, but you also have to make sure that you have enough guys to finish the game if a few get banged up.’’

Marinelli is going to be especially careful with his three main offensive weapons — quarterback Jon Kitna and receivers Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams.