Despite eight stitches in his right little finger and the loss of a piece of the tip on the index finger next to it, there was no hesitation Tuesday about who will start at the center spot.

“I’m playing,” Spanos said after watching Tuesday’s practice to let his fingers heal. He’ll be back today after getting stepped on and stitched up in the Stanford game.

Asked if that’s correct, that Spanos would definitely play, USC Coach Pete Carroll said “Yes.”