For S Malcolm Jenkins, who gave up the winning TD catch in the 2011  playoffs, the postseason loss to the 49ers still hurts. (US Presswire)

The Saints have more on their minds than revenge for last year’s devastating playoff loss to the 49ers, but they aren’t shying away from talking about the pain.

“I don’t think you really get over it,” said safety Malcolm Jenkins, who was covering tight end Vernon Davis when he caught the winning TD pass with nine seconds left. “You just move on. We have a new season, so there’s a whole new set of opportunities, but that was definitely a tough pill to swallow in the offseason.”

The Saints would have played host to the New York Giants, a team they already had beaten 49-24 in the Superdome, for the NFC title if they had survived the last nine seconds at San Francisco.

“It’s hard to think that we would have lost in the dome,” Jenkins said. “You win, and you go to the Super Bowl, but that’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes.”

The Saints, who have won five of six after an 0-4 start, need to win to stay close in the NFC playoff race. They trail Seattle, Tampa Bay and Minnesota by one game for the last spot.

That, to them, is more important than payback for last year.

“A lot of people want to talk about statement games and this and that,” QB Drew Brees said. The fact is, every week is a statement week. I don’t look at this as anything other than the next team on our schedule.”

Offensive tackle Zach Strief is looking forward to the rematch just for the competitiveness. He labeled the playoff game against the 49ers one of the all-time best.

“It felt like an old school game,” he said. “It was physical, it was hard-hitting, it was emotional, it was tough. All of us really loved playing in that game.”

Two QBs, no worries: After a terrific performance by 49ers backup QB Colin Kaepernick in place of injured Alex Smith on Monday, the Saints have no idea which quarterback will start for the 49ers on Sunday.

DE Will Smith said he doesn't care.

“I don’t think we’re preparing for two,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter who plays. They are pretty much similar. One (Kaepernick) runs more than the other one, but the offense doesn’t change no matter who the quarterback is. Our key to victory is really stopping the run. They lead the NFL in rushing yards. It’s going to be huge for us to stop the run early.”

Jenkins agreed.

“There’s not much difference in their offense,” he said. “We’ll prepare the same way for both of them.”

Vitt’s stat of the week: Last week, interim Saints coach Joe Vitt started his Wednesday talk with reporters by saying teams that had given up 55 or more points one week (actually 50) were 5-1 when playing at home the following week since 2005. That was his way of pointing out that no one would overlook Oakland.

This time, he said San Francisco was on pace to break the NFL record for runs of 10 or more yards. His point: stopping the run is paramount.

“It all starts with being a physical team,” he said. “They want to grind it and they want to wear you down.”

Injury update/transactions: Vitt said DE Junior Galette (sprained ankle), CB Corey White (left knee) and OT Charles Brown (right knee) did not practice. RB Darren Sproles went through the whole workout and likely will be activated Sunday after sitting out the previous three games with a broken left hand.

The Saints also signed OG Jamarcus Hardrick to replace Harland Gunn, whom the Falcons signed off their practice squad this week.

Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.