It is a case of going from famine to feast for Pompey in the coming weeks.
International call-ups for the visitors saw last Saturday’s scheduled Fratton clash with Charlton postponed and ensured a rare weekend without a game.
But if that allowed the players to put their feet up for a bit, they will soon be embarking on a hectic run of fixtures.
Their trip to Scunthorpe starts a spell of seven matches in the space of just three weeks, but Kenny Jackett believes his troops are up to the challenge.
The Blues boss said: “It was most unusual to have a Saturday with no game, but the players had a few days off and the staff have done some scouting.
“It was somewhat frustrating because we wanted to keep the momentum going, although we’ve tried to use the break positively and want to pick up where we left off.
“Now we’ve had the squad back for a really good week of training as we work towards the Scunthorpe match.
"It was somewhat frustrating because we wanted to keep the momentum going, although we’ve tried to use the break positively."
“It’s an exciting month ahead and with the number of fixtures we’ve got, it’s going to be a big challenge.
“But the group are ready for that and that’s why you get involved in football – to be part of these big games.”
Scunthorpe have finished in the top six in each of the past two campaigns, but are currently struggling down in 17th spot.
Jackett said: “They’ve been a play-off team over recent seasons and it shows that you don’t need to lose too much to slip to the wrong end of the table.
“I think they’ve been unlucky on a couple of occasions not to get into the Championship and always have a competitive squad.
“They’ve got an experienced manager in charge and I’m sure they’ll still be looking to get up into the top six.
“We were a relatively new side in the division when we went there last season and didn’t do a lot wrong, but they edged us out.
“They were an excellent unit who knew what they were doing, so it will be interesting to see how we do this time.”
Jackett has no new injury concerns ahead of Pompey’s long trip north to Glanford Park, while a couple of players are close to returning.
He said: “I don’t think that Joe Mason will be fit for the weekend, although he’s got more of a chance of being available on Tuesday.
“Brett Pitman’s fine now, while Dion Donohue is maybe a week away from training. I always thought the start of December for him and it still looks that way.”