OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs smiled when asked if he expected injured Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to start Sunday in Baltimore.

“We know he’s going to play. This is championship football,” Suggs said Wednesday. “We’re expecting to see 7-Up. Don’t feed into that.”

Roethlisberger sprained his right foot in Pittsburgh’s overtime win in Buffalo last week. Although Suggs has no way of knowing the severity of the injury, he does know the importance of this particular Steelers-Ravens game.

That’s why he has no doubt about Roethlisberger’s availability.

As if to illustrate a point, Suggs brought up the time he injured his right shoulder in a 2008 playoff game against Tennessee and was listed as questionable the following week for Baltimore’s game in Pittsburgh for the AFC championship.

“Remember I came out with the (sling) on my shoulder and I’m like, ‘Uh, I’m not sure if I’m going to play?,” Suggs said.

He then made a face that made it clear he had no intention of missing that game. Not only did Suggs play, but he had two sacks in a 23-14 defeat.

That’s how it is when Baltimore faces Pittsburgh. Watching from the sideline is more painful than playing with an injury, which explains why injured Ravens Le’Ron McClain (ankle sprain), Michael Oher (sprained knee) and Dawan Landry (concussion) are diligently working to maintain their places in the starting lineup.

“The hairs on your back grow when you get a Baltimore-Steelers type of game,” Suggs said. “Whoever the best is in November and December usually gets the candy.”

This one is for first place in the AFC North. Baltimore (8-3) won the first meeting, but that was when Roethlisberger was serving a suspension, leaving Pittsburgh (8-3) to rely on backup Charlie Batch.

In the rematch, Roethlisberger will do his best to stay out of Suggs’ grasp.

“You always have to have your head on a swivel when he’s coming,” the quarterback said.