Steve Simonsen hopes to keep his place for Stoke City for their Boxing Day clash with Manchester United.
The keeper made only his second league start of the season in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Blackburn.
But Simonsen is on standby to play at home to Manchester United on Boxing Day if Thomas Sorensen's dodgy finger keeps him out again.
Simonsen said: "This is the chance I've been waiting for. I played all last season and I had a good pre-season so I did feel hard done by.
"But when you get your chance you have to make sure you take it.
"It doesn't bother me facing Wayne Rooney or anyone else. It would just be a pleasure to play. I'd relish the opportunity."