Several　methods　have　been　developed　to　determine　the　axial　creep　properties　of　nuclear　fuel　cladding　tubes.　However,　the　anisotropic　creep　properties　of　nuclear　fuel　cladding　tubes　requires　that　their　circumferential　creep　behaviour　be　evaluated　as　well.　Nonetheless,　this　task　remains　extremely　challenging　owing　to　need　to　employ　unaltered　cylindrical　cladding　tube　specimens　directly　and　the　general　low　accuracy　of　the　methods　developed　for　this　purpose.　The　present　work　addresses　these　issues　by　developing　a　modified　small　punch　creep　test　(SPCT).　Equations　are　proposed　to　calculate　the　creep　stress　and　strain　of　the　modified　SPCT.　The　accuracy　of　the　equations　is　analysed　using　the　finite　element　method.　Finally,　the　methodology　is　applied　to　investigate　the　circumferential　creep　behaviour　of　an　FeCrAl　nuclear　fuel　cladding　tube　experimentally.　These　results　clearly　demonstrate　that　the　modified　SPCT　is　suitable　for　investigating　the　creep　behaviour　of　irregularly　shaped　material　specimens　with　anisotropic　creep　properties.　Moreover,　the　semi-cylindrical　specimens　employed　in　the　modified　SPCT　also　enable　the　effective　fracture　strain　of　the　specimen　to　be　easily　determined.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd