Joselio Hanson has been waiting all season for an opportunity to show what he can do as the primary nickel cornerback. It's the role in which Hanson has excelled for the better part of around five seasons for the Eagles, but he's been filling the role of dime cornerback for the most part in 2011 after the team added Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the offseason. With Rodgers-Cromartie unlikely to play this week because of a high ankle sprain, Hanson is in line to reclaim the position against the New York Giants, a team with which Hanson is plenty familiar.

"I feel at home," Hanson said of working in his natural position. "I'm very comfortable at the position and when the lights come on, I'll be ready to go."

The Giants wide receiver who is likely to be most often matched up with Hanson is Victor Cruz, who leads the team with 692 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns against the Eagles back in Week 3.

"I think he's having a good year," Hanson said of Cruz. "It'll be a great challenge. But he'll also have a great challenge on his hands going against me. It should be fun."

Hanson, who clearly doesn't lack confidence, has been hoping for this opportunity since he re-signed with the Eagles prior to the season opener. Though he didn't want the chance to come as a result of injury, he's excited to prove himself nonetheless.

"I've been playing a little bit in the dime package, but I don't feel like that's been enough reps for me to be successful and really have an impact on the game," said Hanson. "Now I know I'll be getting an escalated amount of snaps and I'll have a great opportunity to make a lot of plays."

The other domino to fall with Rodgers-Cromartie's likely absence is reserve cornerback Brandon Hughes stepping into Hanson's dime cornerback spot.

"Great player, fast player, real long," Hanson said of Hughes. "I'm pretty sure he's going to make some plays when he gets in there."