Pompey travel to Home Park looking to beat Plymouth Argyle for a place in the League Two play-off final at Wembley on May 31st.
Team News
Paul Cook will be hoping that Matt Clarke and Conor Chaplin recover from their respective injuries and can at least make the bench ahead of tomorrow's big match.
Jamille Matt somehow escaped retrospective punishment for his violent conduct on Michael Doyle during Thursday's match and is available to play. Reuben Reid may start after Jake Jervis was virtually anonymous at Fratton Park.
The Match
The nerves will really be kicking in as Pompey fans know that their team is just one win away from a first visit to Wembley since 2010. Whilst Thursday's first leg was frantic, the second may well be a more cagey affair given what is at stake.
Having said that, Paul Cook has stated that his team will attack from the first whistle and look to catch Plymouth off guard. The Argyle fans will want their team to attack too which may well play into Pompey's hands.
One thing that must improve from Thursday is the defending and hopefully Ryan Allsop will have spent all weekend communicating with his defenders in training. If Matt Clarke is fit enough, he surely has to replace Adam Barton at centre back as his physical presence should help contain Matt. Hopefully the man who shouldn't be playing tomorrow has no significant say in how the match is won.
One other factor which may decide the tie is a stronger referee than Oliver "bottler" Langford. Paul Tierney has been appointed for the match and he was the official when Pompey beat Derby in the League Cup back in August.
This should be another close match between two good teams and therefore the prospect of extra time and penalties becomes very real. Given the way Pompey continued to attack Plymouth in the last game, you would think they might be the fitter side but then Argyle have had a knack of scoring late goals to rescue results this season.
It really is too close to call. Let's just hope the Pompey players hold their nerve when it really matters.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Plymouth
GK: Luke McCORMICK
RB: Kelvin MELLOR
CB: Paul HARTLEY
CB: Curtis NELSON
LB: Gary SAWYER
DM: Carl McHUGH
CM: Hiram BOATENG
CM: Jordan HOUGHTON
AM: Graham CAREY
CF: Reuben REID
CF: Jamille MATT
Pompey
GK: Ryan ALLSOP
RB: Ben DAVIES
CB: Christian BURGESS
CB: Adam BARTON
LB: Enda STEVENS
DM: Michael DOYLE
DM: Danny HOLLANDS
RM: Gareth EVANS
AM: Gary ROBERTS
LM: Kyle BENNETT
CF: Marc McNULTY
Last Time: Plymouth Argyle 1 Portsmouth 2 (League Two - 15/08/2015)
Pompey were awarded a penalty just before half-time courtesy of Hiram Boateng's foul on Enda Stevens which Matt Tubbs converted. Gary Sawyer then brought down Gary Roberts late in the second half with the latter also scoring to secure the three points, although Gregg Wylde's volley just before stoppage time meant a nervy finish.
My Prediction
Tomorrow will be the sixth anniversary of Pompey's FA Cup Final defeat to Chelsea, a match most famous for Kevin-Prince Boateng's penalty being saved. Wouldn't it be beautifully poetic if this Portsmouth side held their nerve and won a penalty shootout to take the club back to Wembley six years later? Pompey don't do things the easy way, after all.
Plymouth Argyle 1 Portsmouth 1 (Portsmouth win on penalties)