Pompey welcome Reading to Fratton Park on Saturday, with injury issues once again being one of the main topics of conversation in the build up to the game.
The Blues went into Tuesday night's fixture against Cambridge United with eight senior players ruled out of action. They ended the night with nine players now on the injured list, after Tom Lowery pulled up in the first half with a hamstring injury.
We await further news on Lowery's fitness. However, it's safe to say that the midfielder looks set for another period on the sidelines - handing Pompey head coach John Mousinho with another unwelcomed selection headache.
January signing Owen Moxon deputised for Lowery following his withdrawal and is an option. He did okay against the U's, but it was evident that he needs to learn the role Mousinho is specifically asking of him. As a result, does the boss trust his newest recruit enough to throw him into the starting XI against Reading? Or would it be best to seek solutions elsewhere among the Blues' now stretched ranks? Conor Shaughnessy and Myles Peart-Harris, we're told, can operate as holding midfielders when required to, as can Conor Ogilvie.
Another area that's sure to be of particular attention is who starts up front against the Royals? Kusini Yengi was a surprise choice to start the game against Cambridge, leaving top-scorer Colby Bishop on the bench. But will Mousinho be brave enough to do it again? Just how big of a risk is it to Pompey's play-off chances to suddenly drop your most reliable source of goals over the past two seasons for a second successive game? Only Mousinho knows!
In the meantime, here's how we think the Blues will line up as they go in search of a fourth League One win in a row - and their sixth in seven third-tier games.
9. Right-wing - Paddy Lane
The Northern Ireland international's tackle to win the ball back for Abu Kamara to fire home Pompey's third against Cambridge sums him up perfectly. What a battler, whose confidence is growing by the game. Another player of the season contender. | National World
10. No 10 - Callum Lang
The January signing looked full of energy when introduced to the action against Cambridge in the second half. His omission against the U's caught many by surprise, but with Peart-Harris dropping back, the Reading game is the perfect opportunity to get him back in the team. | National World
11. Left-wing - Abu Kamara
The winger was having a quiet game up until his fabulous strike against the U's. Once again proved he's got the talent to punish opponents at this level in the blink of an eye. | National World
12. Centre-forward - Colby Bishop
There's no denying it, Kusini Yengi impressed when handed a start against the U's in midweek. He did more than enough to warrant a starting XI place against Reading on Saturday. A return to the bench would be harsh, but you suspect his involvement served two purposes - 1. to give Bishop a breather and a game out of the spotlight. 2. to unleash a surprise on the opposition. It was certainly a job well done in all aspects - but can Pompey really bench their top scorer for two games in a row at such a crunch time of the season? Surely not! | National World