This game could have taken on much more significance if sixth place was worth a UEFA Cup spot this season but both teams would still have a sniff of fifth position with a win at Fratton Park. Villa have also applied for the intertoto cup for next season so will want to keep pace at the top of the table.
Sol Campbell faces a late fitness test on a knee problem and I don't think he will be risked meaning Hermann Hreidarsson will start at centre back and Lucien Aubey should start his first game for the club since his loan move from Lens.
There are also whispers that Papa Bouba Diop may be dropped to the bench after some recent poor performances so Lassana Diarra should return to the starting line-up. Milan Baros will play against his former club so could well be a banker to score.
Martin O'Neill's small squad has been stretched with doubts over Gabriel Agbonlahor who caused us many problems last season as well as Craig Gardner who scored an own goal in the reverse fixture this season.
Pompey are on course for their fourth "double" of the season if they can beat Villa but should be wary that they have travelled well this season and have only failed to score twice in 29 league games this campaign.
Saying that, since the turn of the year our home form has been excellent having won every game at Fratton Park in 2008 bar the 1-1 draw with Chelsea and we also have a striker in top form in Jermain Defoe.
It should be an entertaining game this one and hopefully one that will see us win and secure a realistic chance of our best ever Premier League finish.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: David JAMES
RB: Glen JOHNSON
CB: Hermann HREIDARSSON
CB: Sylvain DISTIN
LB: Lucien AUBEY
DM: Lassana DIARRA
CM: Pedro MENDES
CM: Sulley MUNTARI
AM: Niko KRANJCAR
CF: Milan BAROS
CF: Jermain DEFOE
Bench: Jamie ASHDOWN, LAUREN, Sean DAVIS, Papa BOUBA DIOP, KANU
Aston Villa
GK: Scott CARSON
RB: Olof MELLBERG
CB: Zat KNIGHT
CB: Martin LAURSEN
LB: Wilfred BOUMA
RM: Ashley YOUNG
CM: Nigel REO-COKER
CM: Shaun MALONEY
LM: Gareth BARRY
CF: Marlon HAREWOOD
CF: John CAREW
Bench: Stuart TAYLOR, Isaiah OSBOURNE, Stilian PETROV, Mustapha SALIFOU, Gabriel AGBONLAHOR
Last Time: Pompey 2 Aston Villa 2
David James took down Agbonlahor in the area and Gareth Barry converted the resulting penalty to give Villa a first half lead. Pompey hit back in the second half when Matty Taylor headed in a cross and then scored a penalty after Barry's handball.
It looked like Pompey would hold on but Juan Pablo Angel struck a late equaliser that deflected off of Campbell and then to make things worse Uriah Rennie sent off Pedro Mendes for a second bookable offence.
Pundit Watch
Lawro: Draw (1-1)
Sky Sports: Draw (2-2)
Soccernet: Draw
Footy-Mad: Home Win
My Prediction: Home Win (2-1)