Cameron Pring appeared against Pompey last season in an EFL Trophy tie at Walsall.
But now the left-back is aiming to help them secure promotion after completing a season-long loan switch from Bristol City.
He is looking forward to testing himself at League One level following his time in the fourth tier last term.
And Pring believes he can do a job at both ends of the pitch, as the Blues prepare for their quest to reach the Championship.
The 22-year-old said: “It’s really exciting for me. I got told at the beginning of the week and I was absolutely buzzing.
“I played Pompey last season in the EFL Trophy for Walsall and felt I did alright, although I’d just come back from injury and was chasing shadows a bit!
"When you win the ball back, you’ve got to be able to drive forward and I’d say I’m good at that side as well."
“But I do think I can make that step up and one of the things that tempted me here was that there’s a team capable of winning promotion. I can’t wait to get started.
“I was a winger when I was younger and got converted to a left-back – first and foremost you’ve got to be able to defend.
“But when you win the ball back, you’ve also got to be able to drive forward and I’d say I’m good at that side as well.
“The gaffer has said that he expects to me to do that, with Ronan Curtis looking to come inside at times.”
Pring is ready to battle it out with Lee Brown for the role as Pompey’s left-back during the 2020/21 campaign.
He said: “Everyone wants a bit of competition because it makes you play better and really fight for that position.
“It means you’re working harder in every training session rather than just going through the motions.”