Paul Cook has solved a couple of his selection posers ahead of a vital home clash with promotion rivals Bristol Rovers - but has more to ponder too.

The Pompey boss has confirmed defender Ben Davies and midfielder Ben Close will both start - but he also has to decide whether to bring back Adam Webster and whether to make other changes.

Cook told The News Davies was merely rested against Leyton Orient and would be back to face Rovers. And he said Close would play in midfield.

Webster is back in contention after missing the Orient defeat with a tight hamstring, while two more Adams - McGurk and Barton - are fit after picking up knocks playing for the reserves.

Assistant manager Leam Richardson says Pompey go into the game knowing promotion is far from beyond them - despite their fall to eighth place after midweek results.

Richardson told The News: ‘It’s open for everybody — and still is. From our view, within four days things can change as the Morecambe and Leyton Orient result showed.

‘If they were positive results we’d have been a point behind Oxford in four days. You’ve got to look at the fact that, say, from the Yeovil to Barnet games it could have the opposite effect. Hopefully we can pull it back to within a point of the top three. We’ll look at ourselves, put pressure on ourselves and get the best results we can.’

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