Opinion: We all want Portsmouth to win Wembley - but it's not this week's or even next week's top priority

Let me start again: Never in history of Pompey’s Wembley appearances has a preview piece been so tricky to write.

I will start with a few undeniable truths.

Saturday’s Papa John’s Trophy final against Salford is not Pompey’s most important game of the season. It's not even their most important game of the week.

And the fact we, as fans, will not be making our way to the Empire Stadium to watch, reduces its importance further.

But let’s also admit a few things. When it comes to it, and we settle down to watch the final on TV, or listen to it on the radio, or follow it online, it will matter.

We will be desperate for the Blues to win it. Not least because winning at Wembley is what Pompey do.

There can be few among Pompey’s support who think beating Salford is more vital than beating Peterborough three days after it.

In this season, and probably any season, winning promotion is always going to mean more than winning this competition.

There’d be more of an argument to be pursued if it were the League Cup final or FA Cup final ahead of us.

But this is a lesser competition – one that is always, at the start of every campaign, going to be the least important of all those Pompey are competing in.

So much so, this year, that I’d suggest KennyJackett ought to give serious consideration to resting some or all of his key players on Saturday.

Why would you risk a Sean Raggett, a Tom Naylor or a Ronan Curtis in this game and leave yourselves open to losing one of them for crucial league games?

I said this on Twitter when the new date for the delayed final was first announced, and although some agreed, others felt the players themselves might be hugely put out if they were dropped and missed out on a Wembley appearance.

That is a valid point and particularly applies to players who have not played there before and - for all they know – will never have the chance again.

If I were the manager, and people should at this point be thankful that I’m not, I would be tempted to ask my senior players who fancied sitting it out and then select only those who were desperate to play, supplemented by fringe squad members and youngsters.

I don't for one minute think Kenny Jackett will do anything like that.

He’ll pick and leave out who he wants, and past form tells you it will be a strong XI taking the field.

And when push comes to shove, if that team gets the job done and lifts the trophy, my guess is we will all be delighted.

I have long been cynical about the value of EFL Trophy but I will readily admit the 2019 final was a truly special day.

It was my son’s first time watching Pompey at Wembley (and my fifth) and it was fabulous to beat Sunderland in the manner we did.

This one won’t hold those same sights and sounds for we, the banned 50,000 this time, but we have to enjoy it for what it is.

Wouldn’t it be just like Pompey to end up having to return to Wembley in a couple of months’ time?

Maybe we should treat this as a warm-up for another Blues-Sunderland clash under the arch. Play Up Pompey