John Mousinho is facing some massive selection dilemmas, as his team aim to respond to back-to-back home defeats at Birmingham City.
Finding some attacking threat will be a foremost consideration, against the big-spending Championship new boys.
Josh Murphy is deemed ready to start, but is that what Mousinho will think is the right thing to do? Or will the key figure be used off the bench?
Then there’s Conor Chaplin’s role, with his impact off the right flank not what he or Pompey fans were hoping for after his summer window homecoming.
Makenzie Kirk or Colby Bishop in the No 9 position is another massive decision with Mousinho has to make, with John Swift returning from suspension and defensive considerations, too.
Here’s how we think the Pompey boss will go against Chris Davies’ side.
9. RW Conor Chaplin
Now things are getting interesting. The clamour to play Chaplin through the middle is huge and there's a suspicion he could end up there at some point at St Andrews, but we've just leaned to fans' favourite starting on the right again. | Graham Hunt/ProSportsImages
10. ACM John Swift
Producing the best form of his season before suspension ruled Gosport lad out against Stoke. We see Swift back in the 10 role, especially with the game being away from home. | Graham Hunt/ProSportsImages
11. LW Minhyeok Yang
Debate is does Murphy start over Yang on the left? Does the Spurs loanee move to the right to allow Chaplin to go to the middle? Maybe the latter situation develops, but we've got the South Korean starting in the position he's mainly been used in. Photo: Steve Bailey
12. CF Colby Bishop
It's the big decision - and it's an incredibly tough one to call. John Mousinho will be mulling over Bishop or Kirk to play as the No 9, with there a fair call among fans to go with the new boy amid the Magic Man's goal drought. Our inkling is Bishop to start with Kirk's energy and defence-stretching threat lifting Pompey off the bench. Photo: Graham Hunt