DARREN Pratley is ready to seize his chance against Tottenham if Nigel Reo-Coker fails to overcome a hamstring injury.

Owen Coyle is sweating on the fitness of Reo-Coker, who has not trained this week, but will wait until the last minute before deciding whether to go without his experienced midfield general.

Pratley has been waiting in the wings for a few weeks for another opportunity after being dropped to the bench over the course of the last few games.

And the former Swansea star is itching to get back into the action in what will be his first trip to White Hart Lane, and help Wanderers escape the bottom three once and for all.

“If I’m called upon, I’m ready,” he said.

“The only way you can get out of a rough patch is by playing, and I don’t think we fear going there.

“Tottenham are a good team and are pushing to win the league, so it’s going to be difficult, but we want to get a positive result out of it.”

Wanderers are two points off the safety zone after consecutive defeats against West Brom and Everton, but Pratley says there is still a defiant mood in the camp.

“You can’t get your head down because there is a long way to go,” he said. “If it was April you would be a lot more worried.

“The lads are sticking together, working hard and trying to get out of this mess. No-one is hiding or not wanting to play.

“It’s easy when things are going well to come in with a smile on your face. But when things aren’t going well, it shows a good team when you stick together.”

Although inconsistency has dogged Coyle’s Whites this season, Pratley is sure a good run of results is not far away.

“There are ups and downs and I’m sure we can turn it round with points over the next couple of games,” he said.

“It’s football – you have to take the good with the bad. No-one got carried away when we beat Stoke 5-0 and we’re not going home crying when we’re losing. It’s a 38-game season.”