Bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth host Burnley in Saturday's early kick-off in the Premier League.
New Pompey boss Avram Grant saw his side lose under his control for the first time last week when they suffered a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United.
But the performance against United was far from dispiriting as they matched the champions for large periods of the match.
The Fratton Park side are currently three points adrift of fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers, who face Bolton this weekend in a huge six-pointer, but are a massive seven points from safety.
Defeat to Burnley would almost certainly give Avram Grant’s side an impossible mountain to climb. However, Burnley travel to the south coast still seeking their first away win of the season and they haven’t beaten Portsmouth in their last nine meetings. This is an opportunity that Pompey simply cannot pass up, especially as they face Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal this month.
Burnley manager Owen Coyle is confident his side's poor away form will eventually change. In stunning contrast to their results at Turf Moor, Burnley have yet to win on the road in seven matches away from Turf Moor and their inability to defend has been their downfall. They have already conceded an astonishing 25 goals on their travels but Coyle insists that playing positive football is the only solution to their concerns.
Burnley captain Steven Caldwell is suspended for the trip to Portsmouth on Saturday after his red card last week at West Ham.
Manager Owen Coyle will therefore have to change his defence for the first time in eight matches and is likely to drop Andre Bikey back from a defensive midfield position, which could pave the way for Kevin McDonald to come in. On-loan striker David Nugent is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is missing influential defender Younes Kaboul.
The former Tottenham man serves a one-match ban for picking up five bookings, but Jamie O'Hara, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mike Williamson and Tommy Smith all return after being cup-tied for the Carling Cup clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper David James is a doubt as he struggles with a calf injury, while the game probably comes too soon for Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) and Steve Finnan (groin), as both returned to training this week.
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