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GREEN BAY - The final Green Bay Packers preseason game comes Thursday night when the Packers host the Kansas City Chiefs.

Then comes what Mike McCarthy calls the most painful aspect of his role as head coach: the often-emotional task of cutting the roster to 53 players.

"This is clearly, from my perspective, the worst time on the job.  Last week and this week are the two times that I do not look forward to the conversations...it's a tough duty," said McCarthy in an exclusive interview with Newsradio 620 WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News."

"I think that's why it gets harder each year.  There are times you're having a conversation with a man you've worked with a couple years.  You've seen them grow, develop, perform for you.  It definitely does not get easier."

McCarthy says the major decision-making  meeting with his boss will come 12 hours after kickoff of the final preseason contest.

"I'll watch the majority of the film after the game and finish up in the morning, then Ted Thompson will probably meet about 6:00 a.m. Friday morning."

Finley in playing shape, Starks not ready yet

Tight end Jermichael Finley's concussion and thigh injuries and running back James Starks' turf toe have limited their presence in the preseason.

McCarthy gave different descriptions of each players' situations.

"Jermichael is fine," said McCarthy.  He was ready to play last week, but did not play because of the birth of his son.  James Starks has come along slowly, so we will not play him."

Cornerback Davon House is also hoping to get more time on the field as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

"His workouts have really picked up.  I had the chance to watch him work.  We'll see what happens next week."

Rodgers pie-in-the-face incident shows Packers 'obviously bored'

The locker-room moment of the preseason came Monday when Packers MVP Aaron Rodgers became the team's most-valuable-pie-in-the-face victim, as fullback John Kuhn splatted Rodgers with a faceful of shaving cream during his post-practice media session.

"I heard about it.  It's the way the locker room goes.  They're obviously bored," joked McCarthy.  "They have some fun, but for the most part, it's a pretty professional group."

Would it be possible that McCarthy would ever get the same treatment from his boss, Ted Thompson, during such a news conference?  When asked that question during Wisconsin's Morning News, McCarthy answered "No.  That sounds like a bad dream."