Kelly Johnson, who switched from shortstop to outfield at the behest of the Braves in 2004, is back in the infield, being groomed by Hubbard as the club's preferred replacement for second baseman Marcus Giles. Martin Prado, Willy Aybar, Pete Orr and Chris Woodward are available to compete at the position, vacated when Giles wasn't offered a contract in December and signed with the San Diego Padres. But the Braves, barring an unexpected trade, hope Johnson will assert himself at spring training and fill a couple of boxes on the team's checklist ?- second base and leadoff hitter. "It's open," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said of second base, "but he's regarded as the prime candidate."