Colby Bishop bagged a brace to reach 20 strikes for the season, as Pompey beat Shrewsbury 3-1 to move a step closer to promotion.
It was not their most convincing display at Fratton Park, with an early Chey Dunkley own-goal cancelled out by Jordan Shipley.
But Bishop restored the lead from the penalty spot just before the break and added another in the second half to settle any nerves.
John Mousinho made three changes from the side that drew with promotion rivals Derby earlier in the week.
Kusini Yengi came in to lead the line, while there were also starts for Zak Swanson and Tuesday night's goal hero Owen Moxon.
Christian Saydee, Joe Rafferty and Lee Evans were the men to make way, with the trio dropping to the bench.
The hosts were forced to shoot towards the Fratton End in the first half, but it did not prevent them making a blistering start.
A throw from Marlon Pack found Conor Shaughnessy and the defender’s cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by DUNKLEY.
Pompey kept pushing on in search of more goals and Marko Maroši got down to stop Paddy Lane’s effort sneaking inside his near post.
But the game started to fall flat after that quick start and the home side were guilty of some sloppy play.
There were still some bright attacking moments, only for them to break down once the ball entered the final third.
And the visitors capitalised to level on 29 minutes, as Dan Udoh’s delivery was laid off by Taylor Perry for Shipley to stoke home.
It did not force an immediate response from the Blues and they continued to labour in search of some rhythm.
There was a dangerous free-kick whipped into the box by Pack, but it somehow flew between all the blue-shirted players in the box and out of play.
With the interval approaching, however, Pompey were gifted an excellent opportunity to restore their advantage.
Yengi managed to collect Abu Kamara’s cut-back and drew a lazy trip in the box from Carl Winchester, with referee Charles Breakspear pointing straight to the spot.
It was leading marksman BISHOP who stepped up to take the penalty, sending Maroši the wrong way to send the Blues in ahead at the break.
Half Time: Pompey 2 Shrewsbury 1
The visitors almost hit back straight after the restart, but a leaping Tom Flanagan nodded the ball wide from Elliott Bennett’s free-kick.
A back-pass from Pack was then left by both Will Norris and Shaughnessy, with Udoh looking to capitalise.
The forward raced to collect the ball and drove into the box, but the keeper recovered brilliantly to deny him.
Pompey began to regain control, but they were still looking a long way from the flowing best that had taken the side to the League One summit.
Lane did burst past Flanagan and into the area on the hour mark, but his shot was blocked by Mal Benning.
A double substitution soon followed for the home side, as Kamara and Yengi made way for Gavin Whyte and Saydee.
The latter player was soon looking to surge forward and advantage was played when he was bundled over and the ball ran for Bishop, whose shot tested the handling of Maroši.
And it was Saydee who grabbed the assist for Pompey to extend their lead on 77 minutes after Swanson’s deep ball had been nodded away by Morgan Feeney.
The forward lifted a lovely deft pass over the defence for BISHOP to sweep home before racing away to celebrate.
There was a sensible double change soon after, as Evans and Rafferty came on for Moxon and Swanson, who were both on a booking.
And the Blues saw out the closing stages in comfortable fashion, ensuring that victory at Bolton next Saturday would be enough to reach the Championship.
Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Swanson (Rafferty 83), Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Moxon (Evans 83), Pack (c); Kamara (Whyte 62), Bishop, Lane (Sparkes 90); Yengi (Saydee 62)
Goals: Dunkley 3 (og), Bishop 42 (pen), 77
Booked: Swanson, Moxon
Subs not used: Macey, Peart-Harris
Shrewsbury (4-2-3-1): Maroši; Feeney, Dunkley (c), Flanagan, Benning; Bennett, Winchester; Perry (Idowu 89), Bayliss (Bloxham 77), Shipley (O’Brien 77); Udoh (Bowman 89)
Goals: Shipley 29
Booked: Benning, Bennett, Flanagan
Subs not used: Burgoyne, Sraha, Hinchy
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Attendance: 20,081 (380 away fans)
