How can I cast a single element from an Array to an integer, while #pragma strict is on, and without using #pragma downcast?

#pragma strict
private var        _index : int = 1;
private var        possibleIndices : Array = new Array();
private var        currentIndex : int;

// the following only works when #pragma downcast is active
locationIndex = possibleLocations[_index];

// the following fails when #pragma downcast is not active
locationIndex = possibleLocations[_index] as int;