OWINGS MILLS -- The population in the Baltimore Ravens' locker room is about to shrink drastically, and that cold reality has triggered a variety of reactions.

For many players on the verge of either making the team or being released when the final major cutdown is conducted Saturday, it's a time of wariness, tension and preoccupation with their status on the roster bubble that's about to pop.

As the Ravens travel to play the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome tonight to conclude the preseason, at least 22 of the players who return on the team airplane will be off the team by this weekend when the roster is cut to 53 players.

"Yeah, I think it's real tense around this time of year for guys trying to make the team," defensive tackle Kelly Talavou said. "It's a little tense right now because you wonder, 'Have I done enough? Am I in their plans?'

“Thursday is very important to me, to a lot of guys. Everybody is trying to put their best work on film. Hopefully, everybody makes this team or somebody else's team."

For Talavou, who spent last season on the Ravens' injured reserve following a shoulder injury, this marks another opportunity after being cut previously by the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks.

“I can get a lot better,” he said. “I work hard every day and I watch the older guys to learn something.”

For the big defensive lineman, a strong training camp might not be quite enough depending on what kind of decisions the Ravens make at other positions.

If the Ravens keep Talavou as their seventh defensive linemen, it could mean the subtraction of a fifth wide receiver or an extra defensive back.

There are a lot of decisions for the Ravens to ponder as several competitions are about to be finalized.

And it's white-knuckle time for a lot of players.

"A lot of guys are fighting for their careers," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "I think our job is to help everybody get the most out of this week that they can for each other, and what that means is we've got to help those guys who are trying to make this team or another team have their very best football week of their life.

Steve Hauschka seems to have the edge over rookie Graham Gano in the kicking battle and can lock up the starting job with a strong performance against the Falcons. If he falters again like he did against the Carolina Panthers, then he could be cut.

Hauschka could have won the job in Carolina if not for his troubling 27-yard miss.

"You never want to miss a kick, but I think it's preparing me if I do miss a kick during the season for the repercussions," Hauschka said. "This is my chance to go out there and solidify the position."

Meanwhile, the Ravens are weighing the respective merits of cornerback Frank Walker and safety-cornerback Derrick Martin.

Walker struggled against the New York Jets as he was repeatedly targeted. Martin has had a good preseason, plays two positions and, like Walker, contributes heavily on special teams.

"I like my chances," Martin said.

There are scenarios where both players might make the team, but Martin has definitely impressed the coaching staff.

"The thing about Derrick Martin that’s interesting is, he’s always the same," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "Derrick Martin comes out and plays well in every single practice. Then, he lines up in a game and plays well in every single game. He plays extremely fast. He’s made the transition from corner to safety. So, he can play both.

"Derrick Martin is a valuable piece to that secondary. He’s a guy that’s in the mix to make our roster, and he’s earned that. It’s going to be interesting to see how it shakes out, but I think Derrick Martin has played his way, pretty potentially, onto this football team.”

The first four wide receiver positions are accounted for with Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Kelley Washington and Demetrius Williams, but Justin Harper is trying to build a case to be kept around as the fifth guy.

He ranks ahead of Yamon Figurs, Jayson Foster, Ernie Wheelwright and Eron Riley, who are facing tough odds to make the roster. Inconsistency in the form of dropped passes has plagued Harper.

"For me to be a part of the team, I've got to do it every time like Derrick Mason," Harper said. "I've got to be able to do the same thing to be a part of this team, so this is a huge night for me."

Running backs Jalen Parmele, Matt Lawrence and sixth-round pick Cedric Peerman are battling for a fourth running back spot, and undrafted rookie full back Jason Cook is crossing his fingers that the Ravens take the unusual measure of retaining two fullbacks.

Parmale's 48-yard run against the Panthers could give him an edge.

"You do whatever you have to do, because you know you're competing," Parmele said. "You have to only worry about what you can do and put your effort into the game. Making a big play like that one, you just have to take advantage of your opportunity. You want to establish yourself."

With tight end L.J. Smith sidelined with a pulled hamstring and possibly out for the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens might need to keep four tight ends on the active roster for the time being with Todd Heap, Smith as well as versatile Edgar Jones and fifth-round rookie Davon Drew. In all likelihood, Jones and Drew are probably battling for one spot.

On the offensive line, the Ravens are likely to keep center-guard David Hale and/or offensive tackle Joe Reitz behind the top seven offensive linemen: Jared Gaither, Ben Grubbs, Matt Birk, Marshal Yanda, Chris Chester, Michael Oher and Oniel Cousins.

It's unpredictable how many linebackers the Ravens will keep behind Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Jarret Johnson, Tavares Gooden, Paul Kruger, Jameel McClain, Brendon Ayanbadejo and Antwan Barnes. That leaves draft pick Jason Phillips battling for a spot against Dannell Ellerbe, Prescott Burgess and William VanDeSteeg.

Phillips' situation has been complicated by tearing his lateral meniscus in February at the NFL scouting combine and underwent surgery, which dropped the four-time All-Mountain West Conference selection to the fifth round.

"With Jason, you can see the flashes of what kind of player he is, especially when you tie it together with the college tape," Harbaugh said. "He hasn’t been the same as he was before he had the injury at the combine. There’s a strength and change-of-direction factor there that’s going to get better and better as he gets more healthy.”

Unable to take part in minicamps and limited for the majority of training camp, this marks the first extended chance  for Phillips to make his mark with the starters only expected to make cameo appearances against the Falcons

"This is my chance to show these guys what I can do," Philips said. "You need to bring your 'A' game every down to make the team."

With his hard-hitting style, Ellerbe opened eyes early at camp before spraining his medial collateral ligament. He's a potential candidate for injured reserve or the practice squad if he doesn't make the team.

"He was really doing well in practice," Harbaugh said. "We haven’t seen him in games yet with the knee. So, we're hoping we can get him out there Thursday night. He really needs to be out there, but you can’t make it heal faster than it’s healing. He's in the mix."

Wide receiver Derrick Mason has noticed the anxiety around the locker room.

And he imparted some advice for the guys who are worried about where they stand.

"Keep hope alive," Mason said with a laugh. "Go out there and have fun. Don't let anybody steal your joy. Make sure whatever you put on film, it's something good.

“Everybody can't make the Baltimore Ravens, but there are 31 other teams out there they could get a spot on. This is an audition, whether it be for this team or another team."