On the face of it this game seems to be of no real significance whatsoever but there are a few reasons why this game could be more important than meets the eye.
Firstly, it gives the fringe players who have a point to prove a chance to show that Tony Adams should be taking them more seriously. So the likes of Jamie Ashdown, Hermann Hreidarsson, Marc Wilson and Kanu should get the opportunity to stake their claim for a first team place.
Secondly, some of the players who performed so poorly against Newcastle will be given a chance to redeem themselves and thirdly, a win would boost our UEFA co-effecient ranking a bit, giving us a better chance of a kinder draw should we qualify for Europe again in the next five seasons.
Whether some Pompey fans will bother coming to this game or not I'm not sure but I expect more than a few empty seats and an atmosphere far below what was heard for the AC Milan match. It's a shame really because if there was something riding on this game then I'm sure Fratton Park would be rocking again.
Still, it's a chance to meet some Dutch fans and watch possibly the last European game Fratton Park will host. So we should make the most of it.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: Jamie ASHDOWN
RB: Noe PAMAROT
CB: Marc WILSON
CB: Sylvain DISTIN
LB: Hermann HREIDARSSON
RM: Glen LITTLE
CM: Arnold MVUEMBA
CM: Richard HUGHES
LM: Armand TRAORE
CF: Jermain DEFOE
CF: KANU
Heerenveen
GK: Erik HEIJBLOK
RB: Joost VOLMER
CB: Purrel FRANKEL
CB: Resit SCHUURMAN
LB: Rene BOT
RM: Rogier MEIJER
CM: Joep VAN DEN OUWELAND
CM: Leon HESE
LM: Peter JUNGSCHLAGER
CF: Jason OOST
CF: Geert DAN OUDEN
My Prediction: If we can't beat the whipping boys of this group, then we need shooting.
Pompey 2 Heerenveen 1