QPR boss Harry Redknapp insists Rio Ferdinand still has a big role to play this season.
Ferdinand is available after serving his 'Twitter ban'.
"Absolutely, he can play a big role," said Redknapp.
"Hopefully he is going to be fit. He is going to train and we will assess his fitness. He has not played for a few weeks now. He had the suspension.
"We will have a look at it and see how he is. Rio does not have anything to prove to anybody. He has been a fantastic player for so many years. He is not one that I have to worry about."
Redknapp also leapt to the defence of Ferdinand's form leading into his lay-off, insisting he remains happy to have signed him over the summer.
"It has been difficult," he conceded.
"He has come from a team who win every week to a team who has come out of the Championship and found it difficult. It has been a difficult period.
"He probably was not getting a lot of protection. It was not just Rio, whoever played at the back found it difficult in those early games. We have looked more solid recently. I am delighted to have him here."
