Now a fourth trip is beckoning.

And this time he wants a larger piece of the action – as well as a hat-trick of triumphs.

Three times in as many years. the legendary Nigerian reached the final with Arsene Wenger's all-conquering Arsenal.

Yet, remarkably, he failed to start any of them.

There was a five-minute cameo in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in 2001. The following year, his time on the pitch ran to a mighty nine minutes in a 2-0 triumph over Chelsea.

Meanwhile, back in 2003, he didn't even get on the pitch at all, instead serving as an unused substitute in the 1-0 win over Southampton.

Kanu can be assured of featuring in the starting line-up tomorrow, though, with chief goal-getter Jermain Defoe cup-tied. It's just reward for a player who booked Pompey's visit in the first place following his winner in last month's semi-final against West Brom.

And Kanu is relishing the opportunity of another stint in an FA Cup final.

He said: 'I have got two medals already, so to cap it off with this would be something special, especially with two different clubs.

'I am looking for a hat-trick – for me that is brilliant. It is something not many players have achieved in their careers.

'Nobody really gave us the chance of being in the final and now we are here.

'Even myself, I didn't think this could happen. When I came here it was just to make sure Portsmouth didn't struggle any more.

'But football is something you cannot really predict.

'Wherever you are you always try to work hard and whatever comes, comes. You don't expect things like this.

'We will be there tomorrow, though, and the players know it's one of the biggest competitions in the country, so we are up for it and want to win it.

'For us not to turn up and win it for a club like Portsmouth is not right. We are making history and we need to make sure it is for the right reasons.

'When you are at this age you want to have fun and enjoy your game. Winning the FA Cup would keep my smiling.'

Pompey boast a side packed full with trophy-winning experience for tomorrow's encounter.

FA Cup winners, Champions League winners, Premier League winners, Carling Cup winners and Community Shield winners – Harry Redknapp's squad is chocker with them.

But Kanu believes that big-game experience isn't necessarily vital.
He added: 'Sometimes experience counts and we have that.

'We have the players who have been there before and won things.
'Cardiff haven't got that experience – but this is a cup game and anything can happen.

'We have to concentrate on our own game and win it.'