What's this? A Saturday with a game? Something of a rarity at the moment for Pompey.

Okay that's a bit of an exaggeration but Pompey have already had one blank Saturday, and have at least one more - possibly two - in September.

Next week's Southend home game could fall victim to international call-ups and the following weekend was when Pompey were due to go to Bury, who have been expelled from the league.

Boss Kenny Jackett says all the club can do is take it in their stride and be ready for a bit of a fixture backlog later in the campaign. And he said he was looking forward to getting back to league action with what he felt would be a stiff test at Blackpool.

He told the club website: 'You want to get into a rhythm in the early part of the season and we’ve already had one game called off. There’s the Bury situation and the potential for matches being postponed due to internationals, although it’s great news that Bolton have been saved.

'That might mean there’s periods when games come thick and fast, but you just have to get your head around that and try to adapt better than the opposition.

'It’s another very good test for us on Saturday and Blackpool have done well under tough circumstances in recent seasons. They’ve got new ownership and management — with several new players as well — and have started the season in positive form.

'All our focus since Thursday morning is on this fixture — and it would have been whatever the result at QPR the previous day.'

Jackett may stick with his new-look defence, which featured Christian Burgess at right-back and Tom Naylor partnering Paul Downing in the League Cup win at QPR which secured a home tie with Southampton next up.

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