The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Shaun King is ready if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need him.The fourth-year quarterback will make his first start in nearly two seasons if a severe lower-back bruise prevents Brad Johnson, the NFC's top-rated passer, from playing tonight against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden wouldn't say who would start, even though Tampa Bay clinched the NFC South title when the New Orleans Saints lost to the Bengals on Sunday.

"Nothing's really changed in terms of what we said all week," Gruden said. "If Brad feels like he can go, we'll consider going with him."

King is 15-9 in 24 career starts, though none has come since a first-round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2000 playoffs. He has appeared in two games this year, completing the only pass he's thrown for 7 yards to set up a game-winning field goal at Carolina on Oct.27.

Gruden said King, who began the season as the No.3 QB, had a good week of practice and is prepared to play.

King made his first pro start as a rookie in 1999, and he led Tampa Bay to the NFC championship game that season. He was 10-6 in his first full season as a starter two years ago but lost his job when Johnson signed as a free agent in 2001.

"The thing is, I just have to go out - if I have to play - and do what it takes for us to win," King said. "Fortunately for me, I've been here and I've kind of gotten to learn through Brad. I've paid attention to the things that have happened, and hopefully I'll be able to put those in play."

Pittsburgh's defense has limited opponents to a total of 178 yards in the past two games, climbing to No.3 in the NFL rankings. The Steelers sacked Johnson 10 times in a 17-10 victory over the Bucs last season, so one of the keys figures to be whether Tampa Bay's offensive line can do a better job of protecting its quarterback.

King isn't a newcomer to big games. Still, Gruden stressed that previous experience only means so much in the NFL.

"It's comforting. But again, what's happened in the past is irrelevant," he said. "We're playing a guy, if he does start the game, who hasn't played very much in the last two years. That's a tall order against a defense like this."

While the Bucs (11-3) clinched the NFC South title, they remain in the running for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Steelers (8-5-1) can win the AFC North by winning one of their two games.

Johnson has thrown 15 touchdown passes and just one interception in his last six games. Tampa Bay is 1-0 without him, beating Carolina 12-9 with Rob Johnson leading the team until King replaced him for one play - the completion that set up Martin Gramatica's game-winning field goal.