Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark says he and Nathan Baker are driving eachother on.
Academy graduates Clark and Baker have often found themselves battling for one central defensive position alongside captain Ron Vlaar.
But Clark says that healthy competition is driving the pair on.
"It's been up and down for me personally," said Clark to the club's website. "I was on the bench to start with and then I was playing.
"It's been a bit of a mixed bag for me and Nathan and we were both coming on and coming off at first. When you get on you have to try to take your chance and I think both of us have done that this season.
"We've both played well and both want to be involved and play.
"We are good mates and if one of us is playing the other one will fully back the other lad."
