Michael you've been involved in relegation battles before - got any advice for your team-mates?
No, we're just getting on with it. Everyone's got their own way of getting through this week, it's a team effort and we know what we've got to do - win our games.

Any experiences you can draw on from the past?
Not pleasant ones. I know what not to do. We're in a position where we can dictate our future by winning games and not relying on anyone else.

You must have been pleased to be back involved on Saturday and come away with a clean sheet as well?
I've been itching to be involved for a while now, and be back in the side. And with the clean sheet it was a nice return. Hopefully we can keep two more clean sheets between now and the end of the season.

How did you feel you slotted back in?
With the clean sheet it looks good. It worked well with Ivar, we felt solid and felt in control. It was a battle, myself and Ivar dealt with that threat and it helped to have Bikey and Harps in front of us. That gave us a platform to build on and we could have nicked it with one or two things nearly going our way at the other end.

Tottenham have a few options this weekend in attack.
Yes, they've got Keano and Berbatov and Bent with a bit of pace. We know the threat that Spurs provide and we know what we've got to do. As we've done over the last few weeks, it's all about us and knowing what we've got to do. Too much this season we've taken our head off the boil and worried about other people. We won't do that this week.

Do the players worry about their plight?
We're getting on with this week and are looking forward to the next game after a nice draw at Wigan.

Spurs offer a different type of threat to Heskey?
Yes, but again I think that if I'm 100% I can deal with that threat. I played at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup game and we dealt with the threat that day. He got the penalty and a goal which took a deflection, but other than that he didn't threaten us. When you see Berbatov dropping deeper and deeper, you know you're doing your job. The further away he is from our goal the better and we know what we've got to do to keep him and Keano quiet.

The last time you played Spurs was when you picked up your injury?
Yes, but that's gone now and it's onto Saturday and positive thinking.

Up against your old friend Jonathan Woodgate - do you keep in touch?
Now and again with the odd text message here and there. I haven't spoken to him in a while. He'll be buzzing there and I'm sure he'll mention his cup winning goal. He's got his move down here, but Saturday is all about business.

They've gone off the boil after the cup win and them going out of Europe?
Yes, some people might say they've not got much to play for, and hopefully they'll come here with that sort of attitude. But I'm sure there are enough things going on at Spurs that mean they'll want to win. There's all sort of speculation about which players they might be bringing in for next season so everyone there is playing for their places. What happens at White Hart Lane is down to them, but it's all about Reading and what we do. Everyone has their heads focused and if we can do that I'm sure we can get a good result on Saturday.

There's goals to be had against Spurs?
Yes, and I'm sure they'll be saying the same about us. But if we go out and display what we did against Wigan with the will to win and will to defend and not concede then I'm sure we can keep a clean sheet. I'm confident in the players we have. Kits, Leroy, Doyley and Longy, they'll all itching to score and we have goal threats there. If we do our job I'm sure we can get a result.

Is it up to the experienced players in the dressing room to gee up Kitson?
I think Kits, Leroy, they're all self-motivated. They want to score and are banging in goals in training. If they keep doing that with good habits they are bound to reap their rewards on a Saturday. Kits and Leroy are strong characters, their heads are not down. I think you've seen in the games that they don't shirk the responsibility of taking a strike on goal. It's not for the want of trying or the effort. It's just that sort of run. I've not been a striker so I've never been through it, but I can tell you that going through a stage of conceding goals is not good. You're confident in your ability as a defender and know that if you keep doing the right things then it will come good in the end.