We prove the existence and nonexistence of positive radial solutions for the boundary value problems {-Delta(p)u = h(u) + lambda f (u) in Omega, u = 0 on partial derivative Omega, where Delta(p)u = div(vertical bar del u vertical bar(p-2) del u), p > 1, Omega is the open unit ball in R-n, h, f : (0, infinity) -> R are allowed to be singular at 0, f is asymptotically p-linear, and lambda is a positive parameter. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.