Claude Davis insists he is ready to step into the void left by Paddy McCarthy's suspension against Derby County.

The big Jamaican defender has found himself on the bench since the start of 2011 as McCarthy and Anthony Gardner struck up a formidable partnership in the centre of the Crystal Palace defence.

But captain McCarthy's red card against Queens Park Rangers last Saturday means he misses the tie with the Rams, with Davis the natural replacement.

"I have always been ready," said Davis, who turned 32 earlier this month.

"It has been a bit frustrating not starting but what can I do but keep on training hard and wait for my chance?

"I am a team player though, it is not about whether I am starting or not, it is about being a team player and then doing what I do best, playing football."

Victory for Palace would see them close to within two points of Derby, the team Davis left to join Palace in 2007, but he will not be out to prove a point to his previous employers.

"It doesn't matter that we are playing a former club of mine," he said.

"Derby is in the past, I enjoyed my time while I was there and that is done now.

"Saturday is just another game and it is an important game in Palace's fight against relegation.

"We need five more wins to be sure of survival and the best thing is to get them on the trot starting with three points on Saturday.

"It would be good to go into the international break with a gap to the teams below us."

Davis became the latest Palace player to join Twitter on Monday and has already racked up more than 800 followers.

"The other players convinced me to join it and now they tell me I am addicted to it," he said.

"I have no idea what I am doing with it really but I am with the lads in the gym and they keep telling me I have to tell people what I am doing so I am telling people I am in the gym.

"There's a big Palace community on Twitter and all the commentsI am getting are so funny."

Follow reporter Graham Moody on Twitter @GrahamMoody