BLACKSBURG -- For a guy who will be facing the best college wide receiver in the country Saturday at Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech's Victor Harris isn't exactly hanging on tenterhooks.

If Harris is a bit fearful about taking on Georgia Tech All-American receiver Calvin Johnson, the Hokies' sophomore cornerback never tipped his hand Tuesday. Hey, maybe this is why the kid is called "Macho."

"Oh, definitely, this is a dream you dream for right here," Harris said. "That's what you come to the ACC for right here. It don't get no better."

If Harris is singing the same words Saturday night, it should translate into good news for No. 11 Virginia Tech (4-0, 2-0 ACC). After all, one doesn't need to be a CIA agent to deduce that any team wanting to survive against No. 24 Georgia Tech (3-1, 1-0) must keep the mercurial Johnson from running as free as an antelope through its secondary.

Just ask Virginia. Last Thursday in Atlanta, Johnson caught five passes for a career-best 165 yards, including touchdown receptions of 58 and 66 yards, in Georgia Tech's 24-7 victory over UVa.

Talk about the real deal. Not only does Johnson go 6-feet-5, 235 pounds, the junior has 4.3-second 40 speed and elevates like he's on pogo sticks.

"I'd say he's probably the best in the game right now," Harris said. "No disrespect to the other receivers, but Calvin has got the total package."

As Tech's field corner, the 6-foot, 200-pound Harris figures to be the defender lined up across from Johnson for much of the day. He will get help whenever the Hokies' defense can afford it.

"We're just going to be in his face," Harris said of himself and 5-10 corner Brandon Flowers. "That's where the heart plays in. ... We've got to show courage and heart and show him we're not going to back down.

"The difference with [Johnson] is he doesn't have the best quarterback [erratic-throwing Reggie Ball], so he makes the plays. We're going to really see what we're made of this weekend."

Fine with Harris. After intercepting the first two passes of his Tech career last week against Cincinnati, the first of which he hauled 72 yards for his first college touchdown, the Hokies' resident "Macho" man said he's up to the challenge.

"This is the type of game to make a name for myself," Harris said. "Hopefully, I will take advantage of it."

Clowney: 'I'm playing!'

Although he's scheduled to meet with his doctor again today, Hokies senior flanker David Clowney said he will be dressed and available for action Saturday. Clowney underwent an emergency appendectomy last Thursday and missed last Saturday's 29-13 win over Cincinnati.

"I mean, I'm playing regardless," said Clowney, whose 13 catches lead the team. "Me going to the doctor is just to see how the stitches are coming along, see how the wound is tightening up, seeing if it's healing, making sure if everything is together, so if I do get hit it won't bust open on me.

"I've heard about people having appendicitis or having emergency appendectomies, but I never knew how serious it was. If it ruptures, people can die from it, and I didn't know that. I wanted to play last week. And he was like, 'Nah, naw, if this ruptures you can miss up to 4 to 6 weeks or be dead. You can miss life.' So I was like, 'Man, if that's the case, I'd rather miss one week and maybe two than miss 4 to 6 weeks or life.' "

Bringing the heat

Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta figures to have his unit blitzing the Hokies as soon as it gets off the bus two hours before kickoff.

When asked if getting the visitors blocked was his team's major point of concern this week, Beamer smiled and said: "I'd say so. ... It's pretty hard to throw on your back."

Tech tidbits

With starting defensive end Chris Ellis suspended for the game, third-year sophomore Orion Martin of Martinsville could draw his first college start Saturday. "I would be real excited about that, but if I don't, I'll be in there a lot so I'll still be happy," Martin said. ... Junior corner Roland Minor, who has missed Tech's first four games with a broken bone in his wrist, will dress and could see limited action. Minor had two interceptions in the Hokies' 34-20 comeback win at Georgia Tech in 2004. ... The Hokies have scored four non-offensive TDs in whipping Georgia Tech in their first two years in the ACC. ... After opening as an 11-point favorite Sunday night, the Hokies were down to 9-point chalks Tuesday night.