Portsmouth to take over both Fratton Park dressing rooms as Oxford look set for Victory Lounge

The Blues are set to take up both the home and away changing facilities to ensure that social distancing can still be adhered to amid the coronavirus outbreak.

As a result, the club are currently exploring which areas of the Fratton Park stadium Karl Robinson’s men will utilise – with the Victory Lounge looking likely.

Usually used for pre-match drinks and functions, the large space under the Fratton End could instead serve as the U’s’ dressing area for Friday’s night's crunch showdown.

It will also ensure both sides use separate entrances on to the pitch as the race for the one remaining Championship place gets under way.

Pompey will come out from the tunnel located below the South Stand as normal, while the Oxford players will emerge from the south-west corner of the stadium.

Social distancing will still be kept where necessary, meaning substitutes of both teams will be situated in the stands rather than the dugouts.

Oxford could also arrive in more than one coach for their trip down the A34.

The Blues will face similar protocols for the return leg at the Kassam Stadium on Monday (5pm), although where they’ll be asked to change remains unclear.

Kenny Jackett's men won’t have the backing of the Fratton faithful for the clash as it’s being played behind closed doors, although cardboard cutouts are still being sold until 11.59pm tomorrow evening.

Around 850 fans have already secured their place to be at the game in spirit, with Pompey hoping to reach 1,000.

The Blues are aiming to make a return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

Should they defeat Oxford, Jackett’s men will meet either Fleetwood or Wycombe in the play-off final at Wembley on Monday, July 13 (7.30pm).