Tim Hightower and the Cardinals will travel to Pittsburgh Aug. 13 to open the preseason against the Steelers at Heinz Field.

It didn't take long for the Cardinals to get a rematch with the Pittsburgh Steelers following the teams' Super Bowl XLIII battle.

The Cards will open the 2009 preseason against the Steelers in Pittsburgh Aug. 13, the second straight year Arizona will be featured on ESPN's Thursday night preseason opener. Last season, the Cards hosted the Saints.

"It's preseason, but still it's going to be an exciting atmosphere," said new Cardinals cornerback Bryant McFadden, who played the last four seasons with the Steelers and played against Arizona in the Super Bowl. "Finishing my last playoff game there and then starting my '09 season there, well, sometimes, that's how the cookie crumbles."

Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. Arizona time and the network's "Monday Night Football" crew will announce the game.

The Cardinals are at home for their next two preseason dates, first against San Diego sometime between Aug. 20-24 and then against Green Bay during the Aug. 27-31 timeframe. The Cards close the preseason against Denver – for a sixth straight season – in Denver Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. Arizona time.

Dates and kickoff times for the two home games have yet to be finalized. The 2009 regular-season schedule is usually announced sometime in the first two to three weeks of April.

Teams are allowed to report to training camp 15 days before their first preseason game, which should put the Cards at camp in late July, although no dates have been announced.

The Cardinals had their first day of the voluntary offseason strength and conditioning program Monday.

Contact Darren Urban at askdarren@cardinals.nfl.net. Posted 3/30/09.