<p>Embodiments of the invention provide that in response to determining that the wireless local area network node (WLAN node) is an exposed node while having data to transmit to a peer WLAN node, the WLAN node that so determined transmits to the peer WLAN node a modified clear-to-send (CTS') message on a channel while the channel is reserved for a primary WLAN node pair. These embodiments further provide for transmitting data to the peer WLAN node only in response to receiving a clear-to-send CTS message from the peer WLAN node in reply to the transmitted modified CTS' message.</p>
