Checking for a bad lifter.

[Onefast99gsx]

Hello. Is there a way to check for a bad lifter just by taking the valve cover off and not having to remove the lifter out of the head? If so, can you please explain to me the method.

While probing under the hood i could hear a definitive tapping noise, unlike the rest of the valve train or the injector noise. This was definately a metallic tapping noise of some sort.

Thanks for any help.