Pompey have to show they're up for the cup this weekend as they aim to make a bit of progress for the second year in a row - after three straight seasons of being dumped out at this first hurdle.

Notts County, Stevenage and Aldershot all accounted for the Blues in the first round following their relegation from the top two divisions in 2012, but last year Paul Cook's team overcame Macclesfield, Accrington and Ipswich before bowing out to Bournemouth in round four.

Cook insists that although League Two is the club's top priority, the FA Cup is important too - and he will be only too aware of the boost a club can get from putting together wins in any competition.

So if Pompey can overcome Wycombe at Fratton for the second time this season - having beaten them 4-2 in a league game in September - everybody will be happy (apart from Gareth Ainsworth and the Wanderers).

Cook revealed he would play a strong team which would include Danny Rose and Ben Close in midfield. ‘Close and Rose will be playing but there won’t be any depth of rotation like we have done in other competitions,' he told The News.

‘Ben is doing smashing. He is a terrific young player and has done really well in the games he’s played for me. Like any young lad he will make mistakes in games, especially last year away at Barnet and Yeovil which are difficult fixtures for any young lad to play in.

‘But I have full confidence in Ben Close to be a really good player. Ben has been injured a lot and picked up hamstrings. He’s been stop-start but remains a terrific young lad who always trains well and has a really good appetite for the game.

‘We’ve got a lot of good players, we are lucky, we’ve got a good squad. All the lads can go in at any given time and play. We’ve got great confidence in them.’

Adam Buxton and Noel Hunt are others who could get rare run-outs.

Chairboys boss Ainsworth said: There is no pressure on us. Nobody expects us to win, but we want to go on a good cup run. Last year we got to the third round, and we’d love to get there again.'

Follow @Pompey_Fans

Click here to sign up for an account and reserve your username! You can then post on the Forum and add your comments to articles

Photo: Action Images

Portsmouth Polls