For Hawaii quarterback Sean Schroeder, nothing hurts as much as sitting out a football practice.

Schroeder was on the sideline Tuesday while recovering from a sore back. Jeremy Higgins took all of the reps with the first team.

UH coach Norm Chow said he expects Schroeder to be ready to start against South Alabama in Saturday’s season finale at Aloha Stadium.

Concerned? “No, not at all,” Chow said.

Schroeder said: “I’m optimistic. We’ll see what happens.”

Schroeder said the discomfort in his back has been “lingering all season.”

He said the ailment is likely “an accumulation of things.” He said his back has not been this painful previously.

Chow had said back tightness was the reason Schroeder was pulled in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 48-10 victory over UNLV on Saturday.

Schroeder has quietly endured aches and pains this season. He has suffered concussion-like symptoms three times, the last 11 days ago.

Schroeder has remained poker-faced.

“I try not to show it,” Schroeder said. “Everyone on the team is hurting, especially this late in the season.”

He added: “It’s killing me not to be out there. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

SALT-WATER THERAPY

Oft-injured offensive lineman Chauncy Winchester-Makainai was back on the first team on Tuesday.

Winchester-Makainai replaced left guard Kapua Sai, who is suffering from concussion-like symptoms.

This season, Winchester-Makainai has struggled with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Four times this year, he has been helped off the field after aggravating the ligament during games. Each time, he has managed to return to the game.

“I don’t want to stay out and look like a wussy,” he said.

He receives intensive physical therapy every day.

“Some days are good days, some days are bad days,” Winchester-Makainai said.

He said he will not have surgery. Instead, he will rely on salt-water therapy.

“I’m going to the beach,” he said, smiling. “I’m going to go diving again. When I stopped, that’s when my knees became weaker.”

Winchester-Makainai said he and a friend plan to resume free diving off the coast of Kaneohe. With a mask and snorkel, he can descend 30 to 40 feet. “I hold my breath, go down, shoot the fish, and come up,” he said. “It’s a good way to exercise.”

DUNNACHIE’S RUSH

Punter Alex Dunnachie said it was “miscommunication” that led to his awkward scramble on a fake punt.

The Warriors faced a third-and-5 situation when special teams coordinator Chris Demarest yelled out to prepare for a fake punt. But Schroeder was sacked for an 8-yard loss, setting up a fourth and 13.

But Dunnachie, who was preparing on the sideline, was not told the distance had changed. He took off believing he needed only 5 yards for a first down.

“I had it in my head I was going,” said Dunnachie, who was tackled for a 3-yard loss.

But he acknowledged: “It definitely was an adrenaline rush.”