Derek Jeter is coming to Trenton, and he could be ready to resume his chase for 3,000 hits by early next week, according to the Associated Press.

The injured Yankees shortstop went through his latest round of rehab work Thursday in Tampa, Fla., and barring a setback on Friday, will make the second rehab appearance with the Thunder of his career.

Thus time around, he'll play two games for the Thunder, Saturday and Sunday, when the team faces the Altoona Curve at Waterfront Park. He went 8-for-18 in five games for Trenton in 2003, when he was recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered sliding into third base in the season's first game.

Jeter's tour of Trenton will come on the heels of Yankee teammate Phil Hughes, who pitched 6 1/3 innings on Wednesday against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Fellow "core four" member Andy Pettitte - now retired - made two rehab starts with the Thunder last September, also against the Fisher Cats and Curve, during the Eastern League Playoffs.

Other notable rehabs with the Thunder have included former Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui, 300-game winner Roger Clemens, Lance Berkman, Jose Molina, Carl Pavano and Kevin Brown.

Sidelined by a strained right calf, Jeter is six hits shy of 3,000. A return next week could put him on track to reach the milestone at Yankee Stadium during a four-game series against Tampa Bay from July 7-10.