We all know Pompey run the serious risk of being back in League One next season if they can’t turn their Championship fortunes around.
A run of five defeats from their past six games left John Mousinho’s side just one place and a point above the relegation zone heading into the international break.
And with the Blues having only eight games - one match more than their relegation rivals - left to demonstate their Championship credentials, the pressure will well and truly be on them to deliver over the remaining five weeks of the season.
If they don’t produce the goods in that period, they’ll be back in the third tier of English football - a level they inhabited for seven long seasons before securing promotion to the Championship in 2023-24.
They also run the risk of being bypassed by several former Pompey players who were allowed to leave during the Fratton Park side’s pursuit of Championship quality.
Indeed, there’s an abundance for ex-Blues players who could be operating at Championship level next season as Pompey plot a way out of League One once again.
Here’s 13 players who could be playing at a higher level than the Blues during the 2026-27 season after being let go by the Fratton Park outfit.
5. Jay Mingi - Stockport County
Like Moxon, the former Blues midfielder could unbelievably be operating at Championship level next season. A player who left Pompey in the summer of 2023 for free after turning down a new deal, he's under contract at Edgeley Park until 2027. Yet with the 25-year-old currently operating at League Two level with Forest Green on loan, it's doubtful he'll experience the Championship if Stockport go up. | National World
6. Gassan Ahadme - Stevenage
The former Pompey loan flop is part of the Stevenage side that could find themselves competing at Championship level next season. On loan from Charlton, he has featured 13 times in the league for Boro, scoring once, as they occupy the final play-off spot. But the now much-travelled forward is not the only former Blue currently at the Lamex Stadium. Dan Butler, Louis Thompson and Harvey White are also part of Alex Revell's squad that is competing for promotion. | Getty Images
7. Ronan Curtis - Plymouth Argyle
Ronan Curtis spent five years at Pompey trying to get them promoted from League One. He made 223 appearances for the club during that period and scored 57 goals, with his time at Fratton Park cut short by a knee injury that stopped the Blues offering the Irishman a new contract. After spells at AFC Wimbledon and Port Vale, the forward finds himself at Plymouth Argyle. And he's doing well. Joining them on a free transfer in January, the former Derry City man has one goal and eight assists from his 16 games played. The Pilgrims are seventh in the table but have won four of their last five and have momentum building. | Getty Images
8. Will Norris - Wycombe Wanderers
The League One title winner was operating at Championship level at the start of last season with Pompey but found himself dropped after the Blues' 6-1 hammering at the hands of Stoke. He was then allowed to join Wycombe on a free transfer in January 2025 as Nicolas Schmid established himself as Pompey's new No1. The keeper has featured 28 times for the Chairboys this season. They sit 10th in the table and four points off the play-offs. | Getty Images