The injury-bitten Cubs could have some relief on the horizon.

Opening Day starter Justin Steele (hamstring strain) is in Arizona as he prepares to throw in a simulated game on Friday. The plan is for him to throw about 3 innings against live hitters.

“Hopefully we’re starting his five-day rotation from this point on,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said prior to Thursday’s 3-1 win over Houston.

Steele has been throwing since the injury occurred, which means he won’t need as long of a ramp-up.

If Steele comes out of that start on Friday feeling fine, then the next step could be a rehab start next week with an affiliate. He’d probably need at least a couple of outings before being activated off the IL, but Friday’s step is a positive one for a Cubs pitching staff that has yet to be at full health this season.

The Cubs have pieced together their rotation in Steele’s absence, but a return for their ace would be an unquestioned boon for the team.

Drew Smyly (right hip impingement) has yet to play catch since landing on the IL at the beginning of this week. The Cubs are waiting for some of the pain to subside before taking their next steps with the lefty reliever.

“I feel confident that as we get through this weekend, we could be looking at like getting him off the bump, hopefully when we get into next week to test it a little bit,” Hottovy said. “I don’t feel like it’s something that like should hold him out too long. But again, like we won’t know until he starts moving again, but he’s been progressing over the last few days.”

Kyle Hendricks (back) will throw off a mound this weekend when the team is in Boston. If the veteran comes out of that session feeling good, then the Cubs will look at the next steps with the veteran.

“Then once we kind of check that box and we can start to plan out when a rehab start would be for him to go,” Hottovy said. “We also want to make sure we’re working on the things that he wants to work on that we need to work on to continue to help him progress as the season goes on.

“And so I think a big step is going to be getting off the mound this weekend to really test it in some high-intent throws to see what the next step is going to be.”