Don't mention dockyards, and don't mention derbies. But do mention another potentially feisty clash between Pompey and Plymouth.

The 'new rivals', if we can call them that, meet in League One for the first time since the Blues beat the Pilgrims to the League Two title in dramatic fashion on the final day of last season.

The trophy was at Blundell Park - the winners were at Fratton Park - and Plymouth are probably still bristling over missing out. Equally they'll probably claim getting promoted was the main thing, and at least it means we can enjoy another couple of clashes this season between sides who pull no punches when they meet.

Pompey are having an up and down time at the higher level and go into this one with eight wins and nine defeats from their 19 games so far. Plymouth, though, have struggled to adapt to the division and are just one place off the bottom with just four wins.

Defender Matt Clarke knows this is a game that means a lot to fans. He told the Pompey website: 'It’s something that the fans seem to love — even if the clubs are miles and miles apart. And the also players enjoy competing in games like these, so we’re looking forward to it and can hopefully take the three points.

'I’m sure we’ll be able to feel the atmosphere when we come out onto the pitch before kick-off and there’s perhaps a bit more to this game. The lads that have been here the past few years know all about that and I’m sure the new guys will soon figure it out.

'Matches have been so tight this season and we’ve seen very fine margins, so we have to make sure we stay in the game and look to score the first goal.'

Also looking forward to the game is Matt Kennedy, who has switched sides since the last game between the teams.

He recalls the title run-in in the match programme: 'I was absolutely gutted at the end of the final fixture and I think everyone at the club was devastated. But then you look back and realise we won promotion, which was always the main target. It took a couple of hours, although we eventually managed to cheer up and appreciated what we had achieved.

Brett Pitman seems set to miss out for the Blues, and Christian Burgess certainly will - through suspension. Curtis Main and Conor Chaplin will be vying to replace Pitman up front if he does not get over the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Peterborough trip.

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