Blackburn v Pompey preview
Steve Finnan misses out tomorrow after failing to recover from the groin problem picked up against Wigan.
The injury forced the ex-Liverpool man off in the first half of the 4-0 drubbing, Tal Ben-Haim switching flanks to fill in.
However, Anthony Vanden Borre remains most likely to come in at right-back. Alternatively, Ben-Haim could again deputise, with Nadir Belhadj recalled at left-back.
Frederic Piquionne has been given the all-clear but Hermann Hreidarsson and Papa Diop are not yet ready.
Blues midfielder Aaron Mokoena said: 'We have a great squad here, with great players, and Blackburn are the same, so it's going to be one of those games that the better team will win.
'For us it's all about going out there and starting the game with a positive attitude, trying to concentrate for as long as possible.
'Technically, I don't see any reason why we can't make it difficult for Blackburn.
'They are under pressure, so for us it's all about us trying to focus in that game and come back with a positive result.'
Join Howard Frost for live text commentary from Ewood Park of Blackburn v Pompey
Blackburn have no fresh injury concerns.
Steven Reid is not yet ready to return to the squad having undergone a knee operation, while Jason Roberts is still recovering from swine flu.
Otherwise, it's as you were for Sam Allardyce, although he is expected to shuffle the squad who lost to Manchester United last weekend.
Vince Grella is likely to start in place of Keith Andrews in the only change, while ex-Pompey target Nikola Kalinic is still awaiting his full league debut.
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce said: 'October was a big month. We got three points against Burnley and although we haven't had anything after that we have got three of the big boys out the way.
'We have put some pressure on us because we are in the bottom three. The pressure always comes back on you when 10 games have gone and you are in that position. But in November we have a month when we have more winnable games.
'Against Manchester United we could have used possession better and that is something we have to improve on.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
