Switzerland striker Eren Derdiyok is ready to step in if fellow frontman Alex Frei loses his fight for fitness ahead of Wednesday's World Cup opener against Spain.

Basle frontman Frei is hoping to shake off an ankle problem ahead of the game in Durban, but if he does not make it, Bayer Leverkusen counterpart Derdiyok is raring to go.

He told www.blick.ch: "No player wants to move up because someone else is hurt, and I hope he [Frei] is fit for the Spain game. If not, I am ready."