Inconsistent Boro aren't quite safe from the drop yet as they sit four points above the bottom three and may not be too confident about tomorrow's game as Pompey are currently unbeaten at the Riverside Stadium in the Premier League.
Gareth Southgate's side haven't won at home since a scrappy 1-0 win over Derby, and that is their only victory in ten league games meaning that they are still looking over their shoulders.
However, confidence isn't too high in the Pompey ranks at the moment after two straight defeats and Sylvain Distin is demanding better, claiming that some players are reacting in the wrong way to the upcoming FA Cup Final.
Tomorrow's game is an opportunity for the likes of Milan Baros, who will start the match, and David Nugent, who may also feature, to put themselves in contention to start at Wembley. With David James out, there will be another opportunity for Jamie Ashdown to prove that he is worthy of playing in the final too.
Hermann Hreidarsson is likely to replace Lauren as he returns from his suspension whilst Papa Bouba Diop will probably play right midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.
Gary O'Neil will not be playing against his former club as he is injured for the rest of the season, as is Mido who had a habit of scoring against us for Tottenham. Tuncay and Jeremie Aliadiere are likely to start whilst Afonso Alves will be one to watch.
Boro will be looking to do the double over us for the first time since the 1973/74 season but with their recent woeful home form I'm confident that we can yet again take something from the Riverside Stadium.
What I don't want to see is another inept performance with players more worried about getting injuries and suspensions. There will be plenty of fans making the long, long trek up to the North East and it will feel like an eternal journey back to the South Coast should we lose tomorrow.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Middlesbrough
GK: Mark SCHWARZER
RB: Luke YOUNG
CB: Emmanuel POGATETZ
CB: David WHEATER
LB: Andrew DAVIES
RM: Julio ARCA
CM: George BOATENG
CM: Lee CATTERMOLE
LM: Stewart DOWNING
CF: Jeremie ALIADIERE
CF: TUNCAY Sanli
Bench: Brad JONES, Jonathan GROUNDS, Fabio ROCHEMBACK, Adam JOHNSON, Afonso ALVES
Pompey
GK: Jamie ASHDOWN
RB: Glen JOHNSON
CB: Sol CAMPBELL
CB: Sylvain DISTIN
LB: Hermann HREIDARSSON
RM: Papa BOUBA DIOP
CM: Lassana DIARRA
CM: Sulley MUNTARI
LM: Niko KRANJCAR
CF: Milan BAROS
CF: Jermain DEFOE
Bench: Asmir BEGOVIC, LAUREN, Sean DAVIS, Pedro MENDES, David NUGENT
Last Time: Middlesbrough 0 Pompey 4
Pompey began their Riverside blitz as Kanu tapped in after a scrappy corner early on. In the second half, Benjani headed in David Thompson's cross before Kanu outpaced the entire home defence to slot in a third. Svetoslav Todorov lobbed Schwarzer in stoppage time to score his last ever goal for Pompey.
Pundit Watch
Lawro: Home Win (2-0)
Sky Sports: Home Win (2-1)
Soccernet: Home Win
Footy-Mad: Away Win
My Prediction: Draw (0-0)