Pompey will be without Steve Finnan for Saturday's trip to Blackburn as Paul Hart's men bid to move off the foot of the table for the first time this season.

And victory at Ewood Park would also see Pompey escape the bottom three - at least until Sunday's fixtures.

“I think that would make a massive difference to the players. They’ve been working hard for not an awful lot of reward," Hart told pfcTV.

“We thought that we’d move off the bottom last week. It didn’t happen but that’s what we’re aiming to do this week.”

However, they will have to make do without Finnan who limped out of the 4-0 win against Wigan last Saturday before half time. Article continues here

“Steve came off last week with a tight adductor. He needs a little bit longer,” added Hart who will be more hopeful Frederic Piquionne will be fit to resume his current hot spell in front of goal.

Tal Ben Haim is likely to stick at right back, having shifted there when Finnan went off and Nadir Belhadj could retian his place at left back.

Piquionne took a knock to the head and was stretchered off early in the second half having bagged his third goal in a week on the stroke of half time.

However, it is though Piquionne is fully recovered and will be able to continue his partnership with Aruna Dindane, who scored a hat-trick against Wigan.

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