Portsmouth host Accrington Stanley in a mid-table clash at Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is at 15:00 GMT.
Pompey look to make it six games unbeaten as they try and make a late push for the play-off places in League One.
Stanley will be looking to build on their 3-2 win on Saturday against Wycombe Wanderers as they attempt to finish the season strongly.
In last Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Fleetwood Town, Pompey striker Reeco Hackett picked up what is expected to be a knee injury and Danny Cowley confirmed this week that he will be out for the rest of the season.
Hackett joins Kieron Freeman and Shaun Williams who are also expected to play no more part this campaign.
Ronan Curtis will also be unavailable as he serves his second game of his suspension after his yellow card against Fleetwood Town.
In better news, Michael Jacobs is nearing a return to action with Pompey manager Danny Cowley hoping he can be involved this weekend.
As for Stanley, they have Mitchell Clark out as he starts his first of a three game ban due to his red card against Wycombe Wanderers last weekend.
Jay Rich-Baghuelou won’t be involved this weekend as he attempts to get over an ankle injury while Yeboah Amankwah is back in training.
-
Predicted lineups
Portsmouth: Bazunu, Carter, Raggett, Robertson, Romeo, Thompson, Morrell, Hume, Harness, O’Brien, Hirst
Accrington Stanley: Savin, Rodgers, Nottingham, Sykes, McConville, Butcher, Pell, Morgan, Hamilton, Bishop, Adedoyin
-
Form guide
Pompey go into this game after an impressive midweek win against fourth-placed Oxford United.
The Hampshire side won 3-2 thanks to goals by Sean Raggett, George Hirst and Hayden Carter.
This win on Tuesday night extended Portsmouth’s unbeaten run to six games as they try and move up the table.
Last time out Accrington Stanley won 3-2 to play-off hopefuls Wycombe Wanderers at the Wham Stadium.
The Lancashire side won the weekend’s match through goals by Korede Adedoyin, Ross Sykes and Harry Pell.
Stanley will be looking to build on this win and start a run of victories as they have been inconsistent of late with three losses and three wins in the last six games.
-
Ones to watch
Marcus Harness will be vital to Cowley’s team on Saturday and the rest of the season as he brings the side’s firepower.
The Englishman has bagged 10 League One goals this season as well three assists and will be hoping to repeat his performance in the reverse fixture when he snatched a point with four minutes to go with a goal.
With Ronan Curtis serving his second game of his suspension, it will be up to Harness to step in and create for this Pompey side like he did midweek when he assisted George Hirst for the second goal of the game.
Stanley were glad to welcome centre back Ross Sykes back on Saturday after his suspension in the two previous games.
The local lad has been in fine form this season at the heart of the Stanley defence forming a good partnership with Michael Nottingham.
Nottingham told Accrington Stanley Media that Sykes has “so much potential to become even better and make it all the way to the top.”
As well as his defensive duties, the Lancashire lad has popped up with three goals this season including a double against Crewe Alexandra at the start of February.
-
Previous meetings
The last time these sides met was 23 October 2021 when they drew 2-2 at the Wham Stadium.
Stanley were leading that game with five minutes left through goals by Harry Pell and Matthew Butcher but an 86th minute equaliser by Marcus Harness meant the spoils were shared.
Overall the sides are level on four games won each and seven draws in their 15 previous meetings.
-
Where to watch on TV
This game isn’t being broadcast live on TV but each set of fans can listen to the game using their club’s iFollow service. Fans outside of the UK & Ireland can purchase a match pass from either club website to watch a live stream of the game.