CLEMSON — If there is ever a good time for an offensive lineman to move from tackle to guard, this was it for Cory Lambert.

Clemson’s ever –shuffling offensive line will start its fifth different combination in six games Thursday night at Wake Forest. Sophomore Chris Hairston returns to left tackle following a three-game absence from the starting lineup to heal a burst bursa sac in his right knee caused by a moped accident. Lambert moved to left tackle in his place, but redshirt freshman Landon Walker has been a revelation at right tackle, so Hairston’s return left Lambert the odd man out.

No worries. He moved to left guard, and has received praise for his work from teammates and offensive line coach Brad Scott. Just a case of good timing, Lambert says, since he had 12 days to learn the position with no game last weekend.

“That (off week) was definitely the thing that I needed,” he said. “There is a big difference from tackle to guard, and having those days definitely paid off, being able to learn the position, learn the steps, learn the calls and everything.”

Lambert credits teammates, including center Thomas Austin, for help in his transition. As he sees it, versatility can only help him and the rest of the line.

“I’m hoping what I’m doing well is allowing them to have trust in me, to do whatever I can to help them out,” Lambert said. “Whether it’s playing tackle, left tackle, right tackle, or guard, they can trust me in any position.”

Happy homecoming: Hairston’s return comes at the perfect time, considering he’s a Winston-Salem native. He was lightly recruited coming out of high school, so playing an ACC game at BB&T Field is a dream come true.

“I never thought I was going to have a chance to do that,” he said. “I figured if I had a chance to play at Wake Forest, it’d be playing for (North Carolina) A&T or somebody (like that). I never thought it’d be like this.”

Hairston says his knee is getting “closer and closer” to 100 percent each day, although he’s still feeling some swelling and does extra stretches during warm-ups to compensate. One thing is for sure: he won’t be climbing aboard a moped anytime soon.

“For right now, the next 10-15 years, I don’t think I’ll be getting on another moped,” he said. “I might teach my kid to ride a moped, but I don’t know if that’d be a good idea. I’d tell him, I don’t know if you’d want to learn from me. I’m sure that’s not a good idea.”

Clemson-GT game time set: Clemson’s Oct. 18 home game with Georgia Tech has been set for a noon kickoff and will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2, the ACC announced this week. The game’s network will be announced next week.

Spiller improved: Tailback C.J. Spiller says he’s fully healthy this week following a week to rest his troublesome right foot. Spiller rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown against Maryland, but said he was only “70 percent” healthy; his foot had pained him since a Sept. 20 win over N.C. State.

“I think the bye week couldn’t have come any sooner,” Spiller said. “I’m 100 percent, full speed both ways and hopefully it’ll hold up for Thursday.

That’s a welcome sign for Clemson’s offense.

“I know I was less than 100 percent (against Maryland),” he said. “Every time the foot bothered me I didn’t want to go in the game, because I couldn’t run like I wanted to.”