The Blues head coach surprised many by naming Zak Swanson and Connor Ogilvie in his starting XI against Cambridge in midweek – despite the recent good form of Joe Rafferty and Jack Sparkes.
He also included Christian Saydee in his line up as Pompey look to avoid burn-out within their ranks, with the end result being a goalless draw at the Abbey Stadium.
Whether or not he choses to do so again at the Royals remains to be seen. With Ogilvie back on the sidelines with an ankle injury, joining Marlon Pack, Tom Lowery and Anthony Scully in the treatment room, there’ll be less scope to do so.
But with the previously ill Gavin Whyte and Sean Raggett back in contention, there’s still the possibility!
So with that in mind, how do we think the Blues will line up against a Reading side currently sat second-from-bottom in the League One table?
Well, here’s what we’ve come up with.
Whether or not he choses to do so again at the Royals remains to be seen. With Ogilvie back on the sidelines with an ankle injury, joining Marlon Pack, Tom Lowery and Anthony Scully in the treatment room, there’ll be less scope to do so.
![Produced another man-of-the-match display against Cambridge in midweek. Like elsewhere in the team, Mousinho will be keen to give Sean Raggett and Ryley Towler some game time, but let's not do that just yet.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNkNmUwYTM3LWRjM2EtNDdiZi04MjBlLWNkMjgwMzgzMDJlMDo1N2IyMzA4My1jYTdiLTRjNTAtODAyYS1lZmQ2YzZjYThlMjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Centre-back 2: Conor Shaughnessy
Produced another man-of-the-match display against Cambridge in midweek. Like elsewhere in the team, Mousinho will be keen to give Sean Raggett and Ryley Towler some game time, but let's not do that just yet.Photo: Jason Brown
![Was surprisingly left out of the starting XI on Tuesday, only to find himself called upon within 10 minutes as Connor Ogilvie picked up an ankle injury. The former Exeter man is the obvious choice to step in again as a recall for out-of-favour Denver Hume would be considered too left-field!](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQzZTFhNjM0LTI3MzctNDA1Ni1iZDZmLTA3YTNhMzQwMzJkYTpmNTU4ZjQ5Zi1jMTUxLTRkMmItYTRhMS1hNTk0YzMzZmQwNzk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Left-back: Jack Sparkes
Was surprisingly left out of the starting XI on Tuesday, only to find himself called upon within 10 minutes as Connor Ogilvie picked up an ankle injury. The former Exeter man is the obvious choice to step in again as a recall for out-of-favour Denver Hume would be considered too left-field!Photo: Jason Brown
![The midfielder's shove on former Blues team-mate Michael Morrison summed him up perfectly. Aggressive, a willing battler for the Pompey cause, but also frustratingly silly. Despite that, the stand-in captain is a key figure in the midfield and will be needed at the Madejski.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjllMjVkY2ZmLTU0NzQtNGEyOS05OWE4LWU3NmI4NjI4MjFiZDozNzUxNjE4Ni05MDQ0LTQwZDAtOTQzYi0yOGY5OTJkNmU5ZWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Central midfield 1: Joe Morrell
The midfielder's shove on former Blues team-mate Michael Morrison summed him up perfectly. Aggressive, a willing battler for the Pompey cause, but also frustratingly silly. Despite that, the stand-in captain is a key figure in the midfield and will be needed at the Madejski.Photo: Jason Brown
![If there is talk of surprise selections, there's a chance they will come in midfield or the three attacking areas behind Colby Bishop. Alex Robertson has operated here in the absence of Marlon Pack but with Pompey struggling to break Cambridge down in midweek, could he be moved up? That potentially leaves a gap alongside Morrell in midfield, and Stevenson seems an obvious choice. He hasn't let Pompey down when called upon.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmUzMmZjMmU1LTc2YjctNDkzNy1hOTFmLTA5ZjVhYWU1YjRiMDozOTI3Y2IzYS04MTUxLTRmMDgtYTAyZC02ZmU3Mjg5MzE2MjA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Central midfield 2: Ben Stevenson
If there is talk of surprise selections, there's a chance they will come in midfield or the three attacking areas behind Colby Bishop. Alex Robertson has operated here in the absence of Marlon Pack but with Pompey struggling to break Cambridge down in midweek, could he be moved up? That potentially leaves a gap alongside Morrell in midfield, and Stevenson seems an obvious choice. He hasn't let Pompey down when called upon.Photo: Jason Brown