Pompey will face Lincoln for the first time in 36 years following the latter’s League Two title success last term.
You have to go all the way back to the 1982/83 campaign to find the last time that the clubs shared a division.
It has been a remarkable rise for the Imps, who finished top of the National League two seasons ago and followed that up with a play-off defeat 12 months later.
LAST SEASON
Lincoln were the first club in the EFL to secure promotion following a 1-1 draw with Cheltenham in the middle of April.
Another stalemate – this time against Tranmere on Easter Monday – saw the Imps claim the title and they finished eight points clear of Bury in second.
THE MANAGER
Danny Cowley – who has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Hull – spent his entire playing career in the non-league game.
Injury forced him to hang up his boots and the Londoner then took charge of Concord and Braintree before arriving at Lincoln in 2016 and leading them to two promotions.
POMPEY CONNECTIONS
Striker John Akinde netted 17 goals for Lincoln last term, but failed to find the target during a half-season spell with the Blues in 2013.
HEAD TO HEAD
Pompey: 8 wins
Lincoln: 5 wins
5 draws
Last Fratton meeting
Pompey 4 (Biley 3, Rafferty)
Lincoln 1
Division Three
November 2 1982
Last away meeting
Lincoln 0
Pompey 3 (Aizlewood, Rafferty 2)
Division Three
February 16 1983
IMPS STATS
Formed: 1884
Best league finish: 5th in Division Two (1901/02)
Ground: Sincil Bank
Distance from Fratton Park: 212.2 miles
Estimated drive time: 3 hours 24 minutes
League One title odds: 14/1
10-YEAR HISTORY
2018/19 League Two: 1st
2017/18 League Two: 7th
2016/17 National League: 1st
2015/16 National League: 13th
2014/15 National League: 15th
2013/14 National League: 14th
2012/13 National League: 16th
2011/12 National League: 17th
2010/11 League Two: 23rd
2009/10 League Two: 20th