Pompey Women finally return to action when they host Southampton in a south coast derby at the PMC Stadium on Sunday (2pm kick-off).
They have certainly been well-rested ahead of a National League Cup quarter-final contest between the two Hampshire rivals.
Jay Sadler’s side have not been in action since exiting the FA Cup at the hands of Ipswich four weeks ago, with wet weather leading to several postponements.
The Blues have already had to negotiate four matches in the competition to reach the last eight.
They started all the way back in August, when extra-time strikes from Tamsin de Bunsen and Becki Bath saw them beat Watford.
Charmaine True’s last-gasp effort then helped see off Gillingham in another contest that went beyond 90 minutes.
Pompey enjoyed a 6-1 rout of Leyton Orient in October – with a brace from True – before True and Rosie McDonnell both found the target in a 2-1 victory at Crawley.
Their neighbours enter the contest having lost just once all season – and that came at the hands of Championship opponents Coventry United in the FA Cup last weekend, which was their debut outing at St Mary’s.
Southampton, who knocked out Yeovil in the last round, sit at the top of the National League Division One South-West, which is one tier below the Blues.
They have won eight of their nine fixtures in that competition, only dropping points with a draw against the similarly-named Southampton Women.
Tickets for Sunday’s contest at the PMC Stadium (PO3 5LY) can be bought on the gate, priced £5 for adults and £2 for concessions (U18/63+).
🎙 ICYMI: We mic'd up manager Jay Sadler to find out how #Pompey have been preparing for the visit of Southampton#BlueTogether pic.twitter.com/6CEYH8C9MU
— Portsmouth Women (@PompeyWomen) February 1, 2020