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With the game coming so soon after the Wolves game Stan has said he will make full use of his squad and it is in midfield and up front where I expect him to make changes. Paul Gascoigne will surely be an unlikely starter after two poor performances against Sheffield United and Wolves. He came off at half time as did Gareth Taylor and both of them can expect to win places on the bench only at Fratton Park.
That would leave a starting eleven the same as the team that started the second half against Wolves and that was: Nik Michopoulos, Dean West, Mitchell Thomas, Arthur Gnohere, Lee Briscoe, Glen Little, Paul Weller, Kevin Ball, Alan Moore, Ian Moore, David Johnson. It would be surprising if the starting eleven was much different from that.
That would mean the subs to be selected from Gordon Armstrong, Tony Grant, Paul Gascoigne, Gareth Taylor, Andy Payton, Robbie Blake and Paul Cook.
Harry Redknapp will be making changes from the side that lost at Preston. One of the three new signings, Eddie Howe, is almost certain to miss the game after coming off on Saturday with suspected ligament damage whilst Nigel Quashie misses out through suspension.
Shaun Derry could return from injury although remains a doubt but Leonardo Biaigini should come back in after missing Preston as a precaution. If so he will partner Todorov up front.
Two other players out of the squad on Saturday were Robert Prosinecki and Yoshi Kawaguchi who were both rested after being away on international duty. Prosinecki will start against the Clarets but Kawaguchi is unlikely to take Dave Beasant's place in goal and will be on the bench.
It looks as though they could have one of the biggest crowds at Fratton Park this season for Harry Redknapp's first home game in charge, although the new boss, nicknamed Lazy by the fans, is clearly anything but popular with them.
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