SPOKANE -- If there was a college football award for reliever of the year, Washington State quarterback Marshall Lobbestael could win.

Lobbestael has spent his career moving in and out of the starting lineup in relief of injured quarterbacks.

He'll do it one more time Saturday when he starts the Apple Cup against Wash-ington.

"It is similar to a relief pitcher, I guess," Lobbestael said Wednesday. "You've got to be locked in at all times."

Lobbestael opened this season as the backup to Jeff Tuel. But Tuel went down with a fractured collarbone on his opening series of the season, and Lobbestael started the next four games before Tuel came back against Stanford. Tuel reinjured his collarbone against Oregon State, bringing Lobbestael back as the starter until he was outplayed by freshman Connor Halliday in the Arizona State game.

Halliday started the Utah game, and Lobbestael did not take a snap, even though it was senior day. But Halliday suffered a lacerated liver against Utah, putting the ball back in Lobbestael's hands for the annual rivalry game against Washington.

"Connor's injury is unfortunate, but I'm glad I'm here to help the team and excited to get the opportunity to start," Lobbestael said.

Moving between starter and backup is a challenge, he said, but offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy makes sure all the healthy quarterbacks are ready to play each week.

"You prepare like you are the starter," Lobbestael said, "so when your number is called you can pick up where the guy ahead of you left off."

Lobbestael is a psychology major, which he said helps him keep personal setbacks in perspective.

"It's something I've gotten better at over the years, knowing my role and what the coach expects of me," he said.

Coach Paul Wulff has plenty of confidence in Lobbestael.

"He's a veteran guy who has played a lot of football," Wulff said. "We need him to go in there and execute our offense."

Lobbestael has appeared in 10 games -- eight of them starts -- and completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,240 yards, with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was the starter in three of the team's four wins.

The rap on Lobbestael is a lack of arm strength and mobility. That's why he keeps getting benched.

But you can count Washington coach Steve Sarkisian as a fan.

"I think when you look at Washington State this year, arguably the best football they've played this year is with Lobbestael at quarterback," Sarkisian said. "Marshall has really had a tremendous season."

An Oak Harbor High School product, Lobbestael redshirted in 2007. He was the third-string quarterback in 2008 but was thrown in when Gary Rogers and Kevin Lopina were injured. He played in five games and started three before his season ended because of an ACL injury.

Lobbestael still was hampered by the knee injury in 2009, but he played in eight games and started three as a sophomore, splitting time with Lopina and the freshman Tuel.

Lobbestael played in the 2009 Apple Cup in relief of Lopina. He remembers being knocked around in what turned out to be a 30-0 loss in Seattle.

"I got my bell rung a little bit," Lobbestael said. "It was a rough game."

Last season, with Tuel entrenched as the starter, Lobbestael did mop-up duty in six games, throwing just 15 passes. He did not play in last year's 35-28 Apple Cup loss in Pullman.

Lobbestael figures he is more prepared to play the game this year, as it will be his ninth start of the season.

"We've had more success than that season," he said. "I feel more prepared."

Wulff has no doubt that Lobbestael can handle all the noise and hoopla around the rivalry game.

"Marshall has been a part of this before, and he should handle it fine," Wulff said.