'N Sync's big reunion surprise at the MTV Video Music Awards is still on, even though bandmate Joey Fatone insists he won't be able to make it to Sunday's (25Aug13) ceremony.

Reports suggest he and Lance Bass are simply trying to play down the big news after it leaked earlier this week (beg19Aug13).

Insiders tells E! News the veteran boy band will perform a hits medley as part of a tribute to frontman Justin Timberlake, who will be honored with the MTV Vanguard Award at the ceremony in New York.

On Friday (23Aug13) Fatone insisted he would not be able to attend the VMAs because he would be celebrating a relative's 40th birthday on Staten Island, adding, "Why the hell would I attend? I mean, for Justin obviously, he's getting the Vanguard Award, which is cool. We heard about that, and that's when the rumors started flying about doing all this stuff... but I haven't gotten a phone call or anything."

But his dad begs to differ, telling RadarOnline that his son came to him for advice when the band was considering the reunion.