Portsmouth boss dismisses fears over player fatigue as he prepares to go full strength at Wembley

But he has reassured the Fratton faithful that risks won’t be taken on injuries for the Papa John’s Trophy final.

The Blues boss will go as strong as possible for Saturday’s encounter with Salford, pledging to field a first-choice side.

That Wembley fixture takes place 72 hours before returning to league action in Tuesday’s crucial trip to promotion-chasing Peterborough.

However, Jackett insists he is comfortable with naming full-strength teams for both occasions, despite the heavily-congested fixture list.

And he is adamant there are currently no telltale signs of fatigue among his playing squad.

Pompey’s boss said: ‘If we didn’t have the final, we would have a league game instead.

‘We want to get back to top form if we can and nobody wants to miss out at Wembley. Anybody you leave out will be desperately disappointed.

‘I don’t think there’s any tiredness at all, I don’t sense that. Sometimes, within games, confidence levels go up and down, but that is the same for other sides as well.

‘I don’t sense the players are tired and they compare very well.

‘There’s definitely no risk going with a strong team. If there are any sort of grey areas there, you would have to consider that even if it’s a league game.

‘But there’s nobody in that category, unless Andy (Cannon) makes a rapid recovery, which is possible over the next couple of days.

‘Apart from Andy – and I wouldn’t risk a hamstring injury – it is pretty cut and dried for everybody. Everybody is fit, available and looking forward to Wembley, they see it as a chance and an opportunity.

‘We have Peterborough on Tuesday and the players can definitely play both.

‘The opportunity is here and now, there is no point for us waiting later down the road.’

Pompey head to Wembley on the back of five defeats in seven matches.

It’s not just the chance to retain the trophy at stake, there’s also the need for a positive outcome to kickstart their faltering play-off challenge.

Jackett added: ‘We need to find consistency. We have played well in spells of games, but it hasn’t been enough.

‘Since around Christmas, our form hasn’t been good and, similarly, then results haven’t been good.

‘We have to work very hard and get back to good form and good results otherwise the season’s going to run away.

‘We are capable of it because, for the majority of the season, we have done it.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

On Saturday, March 13 Pompey will finally get their day at Wembley.

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