Team News
Liam Lawrence is again doubtful for this match despite undergoing oxygen treatment on his calf but Kanu should return to the squad after missing Tuesday's game because of personal reasons.
David Norris, a player Steve Cotterill will try to sign in the summer, will miss the game because of ankle and knee problems whilst Colin Healy will also miss out with a stomach injury.
The Match
After three straight wins without conceding a goal, Pompey can now go above Ipswich tomorrow should they win in Suffolk. However, the task won't be easy as Paul Jewell has rejuvenated the Tractor Boys since replacing Roy Keane.
Pompey have only beaten Ipswich once in 17 attempts in the league but did emerge victorious from the last two FA Cup ties between the two sides. They also have a trump card in David Nugent who has scored at Portman Road on every visit and has never tasted defeat to Ipswich.
Whether that will count for anything or not? Who knows? I am expecting another steely performance from our defence although I expect Connor Wickham to pose more problems than some of the recent strikers they have been up against.
Moving on to a more personal perspective from a fan's point of view; I'm happy to be feeling so relaxed ahead of a football match involving Portsmouth for some time.
Defeat wouldn't be the end of the world but that's not to say that this game is meaningless as we haven't achieved survival yet, but a win will see Pompey fans look up the table from now on rather than down it.
I'm confident we can take something from this game as we've now become so much more difficult to score against mainly thanks to Ricardo Rocha. If the "Nugent curse" strikes again then perhaps we can nick one at the other end too but this should be more difficult than the last three games.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Ipswich
GK: Marton FULOP
RB: Jaime PETERS
CB: Gareth McCAULEY
CB: Tommy SMITH
LB: Damien DELANEY
RM: Carlos EDWARDS
CM: Jimmy BULLARD
CM: Grant LEADBITTER
LM: Mark KENNEDY
CF: Jason SCOTLAND
CF: Connor WICKHAM
Pompey
GK: Jamie ASHDOWN
RB: Ritchie DE LAET
CB: Greg HALFORD
CB: Ricardo ROCHA
LB: Hermann HREIDARSSON
DM: Hayden MULLINS
DM: Jonathan HOGG
RM: David COTTERILL
CM: Joel WARD
LM: David NUGENT
CF: Dave KITSON
Last Time: Ipswich Town 0 Portsmouth 1 (FA Cup Third Round - 05/01/2008)
Liam Trotter received a harsh red card in the first half as ten man Ipswich tested Pompey but David Nugent latched onto a Sol Campbell long ball and put Pompey ahead.
John Utaka missed a sitter which would have finished Town off and Pompey fans were made to sweat as Jim Magilton's men forced David James into some outstanding late saves to ensure Pompey would overcome the first hurdle on the way to winning the FA Cup.
My Prediction
I have had it in my mind since Wednesday that this is going to be a goalless draw due to Pompey's improved defence which has seen Pompey shrink as an attacking force. Nugent or Kitson could nick one but I'm sticking with my incline.
Ipswich Town 0 Portsmouth 0