After practice yesterday, Troy Polamalu's first response was: The calf was killing him. Didn't know if he could play Sunday.

Now the real story.

"It felt good out there," the Steelers' Pro Bowl safety said, returning to his customary serious, straightforward approach. "I practiced normally."

Polamalu hurt the calf in pregame warmups Sunday, but played well enough to make three tackles and show no ill affects from the injury. He was listed as fully participating in practice yesterday and is expected to remain in the starting lineup for the AFC championship game against Baltimore at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Field.

Center Justin Hartwig said he expects to be in the lineup, although he still hasn't returned to full practice. He was listed as limited after working lightly yesterday, with right guard Darnell Stapleton working at center and backup Trai Essex replacing Stapleton.

"I'm sure I'll practice a little [Friday]," Hartwig said after practice yesterday.

Meanwhile, the banged-up Ravens -- who haven't had an off week since the season's second week -- continued to have key players limited in practice, with standout outside linebacker Terrell Suggs noticeably absent.

Suggs, who sustained a sprained his right shoulder in recording his 10th sack of the regular season and playoffs Saturday, missed practice yesterday and is wearing a sling.

Besides Suggs, missing a second consecutive day of Ravens practice were cornerback Samari Rolle (thigh), receivers Mark Clayton (thigh) and Derrick Mason (knee) and defensive tackle Justin Bannan (foot). Listed as participating in a limited fashion yesterday were linebacker Ray Lewis (shoulder), safety Ed Reed (knee), tight end Todd Heap (back), fullback Le'Ron McClain (ankle), fullback Lorenzo Neal (shoulder) and linebacker Jarret Johnson (calf).

Honorary captains

The Steelers already stole one from the Ravens. Rod Woodson, who started out and starred with them from 1987-96, but earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens, will serve as one of the Steelers' honorary co-captains Sunday. He will be joined by former teammate Dermontti Dawson. The two former Steelers greats are among the 15 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists.

While at work as an NFL Network analyst Wednesday, Woodson joked on the air that the Steelers personally invited him, but he could yet hear from Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.

Troy admires Ed

This may be a heated rivalry, but Polamalu has nothing but respect to his Ravens counterpart, Reed.

"I've told him many times, 'You're the greatest safety to play the game,' " Polamalu said of Reed. "I've told him that to his face.

"We all learn from each other. And I think we learn more from him. He makes big plays. Whenever you see him have a one-interception game, it's disappointing. 'He only got one? He must be injured.' "

Tough go for Parker

Willie Parker has been one of the NFL's young, emerging running backs â€" but not against the Ravens. In six career meetings against the Ravens, Parker is averaging just 43.7 yards per game and has never gained more than 63 yards nor scored a rushing touchdown.

His ability to run against the Ravens Sunday could determine whether the Ravens or the Steelers will represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., next month.

Reed said the Ravens' run defense's success is grounded in the unit's defensive linemen and linebackers.

"The front seven [is] doing a great job," he said. "It's not just with Willie Parker, it's just with running backs in general. We take pride in stopping the run, but it's a totally different game now. Willie Parker is looking a lot healthier. He's running the ball a lot tougher, a lot harder. So, we've definitely got to step our game up."

Parker looked good Sunday, powering his way to 146 yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers' 35-24 victory against the San Diego Chargers.

Parker has caught the attention of Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who said,

"You saw in that San Diego game, he hit that corner and got around it. That's what we have to do -- we have to set our edges and make sure that we can keep him in and box him in."

Parker recognizes the difficulty of facing a Ravens run defense that has not surrendered 100 yards to an opposing running back in the last 36 games.

"They're stingy," Parker said. "The thing about the Ravens is they are going to fight like we are going to fight."

Those guys again?

Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce will be playing in his fourth AFC championship game, and for the third time, the opponent is Pittsburgh.

"That's really bizarre to me," said Pryce, who played for the Denver Broncos when they beat the Steelers in 1998 and lost to them in 2005.

"I guess I'm always looking at them every time I see the schedule, and I'm like, 'Here we go again.'"