Auburn's Irons hoping for strong finish

AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn tailback Kenny Irons said he won&#39;t be stopped by either the coaches or a gimpy ankle this week.<br> <br> Irons still won&#39;t be 100 percent healthy for the fifth-ranked Tigers&#39; game against Georgia on Saturday, but he says it won&#39;t matter.<br> <br> ``It will be a while before I&#39;m full speed because of the injury,&#39;&#39; he said. ``But I&#39;m not even going to think about it. Send me out there and you won&#39;t even think I&#39;m injured the way I&#39;m going to run. I&#39;m just going to go.<br> <br> ``I know I&#39;m going to be in pain but I&#39;ve just got to fight through it.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Auburn coaches have done their best to let Irons heal since his initial ankle and toe injury against LSU on Sept. 16. They&#39;ve held him out of nonconference games against Buffalo and Tulane and only had him carry once in last weekend&#39;s game against Arkansas State.<br> <br> He sustained a high ankle sprain and a bruised fibula both on the previously injured right leg during the same play on Oct. 14 against Florida.<br> <br> ``It feels a little better compared to a week ago,&#39;&#39; Irons said. ``Before, I couldn&#39;t even turn it that much. I couldn&#39;t do anything. Now I can do a little more. I can&#39;t get out of the block as much but I can do a lot more than I was able to do before.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> That&#39;s good news for Auburn (9-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) and an offense that has sputtered at times. Irons, the league&#39;s top rusher last season, has managed just 687 yards and three touchdowns this year. He had 1,293 yards and 13 TDs a year ago, including a 37-carry, 179-yard effort against the Bulldogs (6-4, 3-4).<br> <br> Irons also said he is considering removing a metal plate protecting the turf toe injury on his right foot. He said he has used it as a precaution.<br> <br> The Dacula, Ga., native figures the last two games against Georgia and at Alabama could define his season.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ve got two challenging games. I just want to finish these two games off strong,&#39;&#39; Irons said. ``I&#39;ve barely played a full game. This Georgia game I just want to go out there and just lay it all on the line. This game, the Alabama game and any other game after this.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> While Alabama is the Tigers&#39; biggest rival, Irons said he especially wants a good showing against his home state team in his final game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.<br> <br> ``I just want to go out there and leave with a bang,&#39;&#39; he said. ``It&#39;s my last game at Jordan-Hare Stadium and I want to make it the best.&#39;&#39;