If the goalkeepers' union had their say at Villa Park tomorrow then it's more than likely a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner would be booming out on the airwaves prior to kick off.

 

Because it's one of those Barclays Premier League occasions when 75 per cent of the glovemen on view are likely to hail from the other side of the Pond.

 

Villa's Brad's Friedel and Guzan and likely to be Villa's keeper and substitute respectively, with Wolves of course represented by the 'US of A' thanks to the evergreen Marcus Hahnemann.

 

Team-mates at international level but for 90 minutes at least, rivals tomorrow.

"The first time I met Brad Friedel at a national team camp was probably 1995 so I've known him a long time," says Hahnemann.

 

"We've been blessed with great goalkeepers down the years with Friedel and Kasey Keller battling it out for the number one shirt.

 

"That's probably the reason I've only got six caps!

 

"When Friedel retired from international duty and I thought it would be me and Kasey and then Tim Howard popped up.

 

 

"And then when Kasey said it would be it for him at the last World Cup Brad Guzan pops up.

 

"It's incredible for the States to produce so many good goalkeepers and it's a remarkable ratio compared to the outfield players.

 

"Guzan came over to me for Thanksgiving with his fiancée.

 

"Friedel hasn't been over yet but we keep saying we'll do it when we both have home games and can get together with the families.

 

"The guys are great and have always been good to me and we've met a lot on international camps and so on.

 

"I've told them that we need the points more than they do tomorrow that's for sure!"

 

Hahnemann heads into tomorrow's derby-day battle with a spot more job security under his belt.

 

CEO Jez Moxey has revealed that should Wolves survive, and Hahnemann make a certain number of appearances, a one-year extension to his contract will automatically kick in.

 

It's an extension which will probably be high on boss Mick McCarthy's agenda whatever the situation.

"I've talked with the gaffer who has told me he wants me here regardless of where we are," adds Hahnemann.

 

"It's nice to be a big part of the team and the gaffer is happy with how things are going.

 

"And that's all I need to know.

 

 

"When I spoke to him on the phone in the summer he convinced me pretty quickly he was the kind of guy I wanted to play for.

 

"I pretty much knew that before but I had a great conversation with him and it's all been unbelievable since I've been here.

 

"We all want to play many games and since I've got into the team it's been great."

 

It remains a hugely congested battle for survival at the foot of the table, and with the games remaining now into single figures it's the time when fixtures and league tables are generally scoured in minute detail at top and bottom.

 

Not by Hahnemann however, who isn't one for setting targets.

"I try not to look at the league table too much," he says.

 

"It just adds to the pressure a little bit.

 

"My wife sometimes wants to pause the screen when the league table comes on but for me it's fast forward, get rid of it!

 

"You just want to get on and do your job and keep going.

 

"Sometimes it's better to forget things and that's probably why my confidence is so high - I don't remember everything anymore!

 

"I don't know how many more wins it will take.

 

"We've got a big game coming up tomorrow and there have been some funny results throughout the league.

 

"We just need to keep trying to get wins and we should be somewhere about there at the end.

 

 

"I think it's going to go down to the last game of the season.

 

"We got relegated on the last day with Reading on goal difference which was devastating.

 

"I want to make sure we focus on what's important and that's Villa tomorrow."

 

And Villa tomorrow will certainly be a test for Wolves given Martin O'Neill's side's current form.

 

In 16 games in the calendar year their only defeat has come in the Carling Cup final at the hands of Manchester United.

 

"They've done really well this year getting some big results and are such a threat going forward," added Hahnemann.

 

"They've got so many different weapons to bring to the table.

 

"It seems like they've been knocking on the door at the top for a long time but this year it's come together for them.

 

"It's going to be a tough game but it's a local derby and the fans will be right into it like they always are.

 

"It would be great to come away with a result."

 

* Both keepers tomorrow to keep a clean sheet?  0-0 is 11-1 with our sponsors Sportingbet.com.  Click here for all the odds.