Aston lightweight Chris Truman is preparing for Prizefighter as if he were one of the eight participants – despite only being a reserve for the competition.

The 26-year-old is dropping down a division from lightweight to super feather for the one-night, winner-take-all tournament, to be staged at London’s York Hall on November 20.

All eight fighters have already been chosen, in what looks to be one of the strongest line-ups yet for the Sky Sports show.

Choi Tseveenpurev, Scott Lawton, Derry Matthews, Gary Buckland, Gary McArthur, Kevin O’Hara and Stevie Bell are all in, with British champion Gary Sykes the final pick yesterday.

But reserves have been called upon in Prizefighter before, although Truman has lined up a fight at Birmingham’s Holiday Inn on December 6 as a fall-back if he sees no action on the night.

The first-ever reserve to be called into Prizefighter was back in April, in the 11th tournament.

Cruiserweight Nick Okoth stepped in for Herbie Hide, who was cut in winning his first fight, and made it to the final but lost to Jon-Lewis Dickinson.

And super bantamweight Paul McElhinney was brought straight into the final of May’s 12th tournament, after an injury to Ricky Owen.

Truman will be paid for his night’s work in any case, not to mention the experience he will glean from a big televised fight night.

But if the chance comes along, ‘the Trumanator’ will be gunning for glory.

He said: “People haven’t heard of me, I have only had five fights but I am unbeaten, I know what I can do and it’s good experience for me.

“I am only a reserve, but you can’t take as it as ‘you are half in, you are half not,’ I have got to prepare as if I am one of the eight fighters.

“If I do get in, I will be ready. I am always fit, but I am going to train extra hard for this and change the way I do it – preparing for those three, three minute rounds.

“It’s a strong line-up but I am coming down a weight to super feather so, if I can get it right, I will be strong.

“The way I feel now, I will get in with anyone and fight to the death.”