Can I make a link smaller than it's background image?

[Daimz]

I don't know if I am being stupid asking this but is it possible to have a link with a bigger background?
The reason I ask is because I am trying to build a new menu using CSS sprites and I need to have the bg image larger than the text. Like this: http://www.arcotsdesign.com/test/asd.html I am trying to make it so that when I rollover the a clear gif place over the text it alters the background of that particular CSS Sprite. At the Moment i can activate the bg rollover from above the .gif(made it black so its easier to see.) I would like the whole background to show but only when I go over gif. Does anyone have any ideas how I might do this?
html:

<ul id="nav">
<li id="home"><a href="#1"><img src="images/clear.gif" id="home_cl" /></a></li>
<li id="portfolio"><a href="#2"></a></li>
<li id="about"><a href="#3"></a></li>
<li id="blog"><a href="#4"></a></li>
<li id="contact"><a href="#4"></a></li>
</ul>

css:

#nav li {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
list-style: none;
display: block;
height: 50px;
position: absolute;
top: 0;
}
#nav a {
display: block;
}
#home {
left: 0px;
top: 0px;
width: 203px;
}
#portfolio {
left: 95px;
width: 206px;
}
#about {
left: 187px;
width: 198px;
}
#blog {
left: 283px;
width: 193px;
}
#contact {
left: 374px;
width: 188px;
}
#home_cl {
background-color: #000;
margin-top: 27px;
height: 20px;
width: 67px;
margin-left: 28px;
}

#home a:hover {
background-image: url(images/navigation.jpg);
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: 0px center;
}
#portfolio a:hover {background: url(images/navigation.jpg) -10px -307px no-repeat;}
#about a:hover {background: url(images/navigation.jpg) -10px -307px no-repeat;}
#blog a:hover {background: url(images/navigation.jpg) -10px -307px no-repeat;}
#contact a:hover {background: url(images/navigation.jpg) -10px -307px no-repeat;}

[Templarian]

Can you fix your example page its a broken link.

[Daimz]

sorry have a look at http://www.arcotsdesign.com/test/asd.html and if you scroll over the navigation you will see that if you put your mouse about the actual home button it will still activate the background change.

[anikasara]

it still does not work.... fix the link at the first please

good luck, anita
www.sadurska.com