To say that Danny Cowley enjoyed a fair bit of success at Lincoln would be a massive understatement.
The list of achievements includes two promotions, leading a non-league side to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in more than a century and EFL Trophy glory at Wembley.
Now he will head back to Sincil Bank in charge of another club for the first time, with Pompey visiting for a League One contest this evening.
And Cowley is looking for his current side to extend their impressive unbeaten record to eight matches.
The Blues boss said: “Lincoln is a great club that’s close to my heart and I have lots of fond memories and friendships from my time there.
“I’m so appreciative of the opportunity they gave me and Nicky, and the way they looked after us and our families.
“Going back will be a new experience for me and we achieved so much there, which really was a collective effort.
“But we’ll go there feeling proud and privileged to now be at Portsmouth Football Club – and looking to find a good result.
"Going back will be a new experience for me and we achieved so much there, which really was a collective effort."
“It certainly won’t be easy and we know they’ll ask a lot of questions of us, so we’ll have to be at our very best.
“Michael Appleton did a brilliant job last season and I thought, on paper, they were the best team in the division. He’s someone I have a lot of respect for.
“We’re proud of our recent form, though, and the grit and resolve that we’ve been able to find within the group.”
Cowley will have to make one change from the side that battled from behind to beat AFC Wimbledon at the weekend.
He said: “We’ve had a heavy schedule – which is the nature of this division – and have a small squad to select from at the moment
“Lee Brown is obviously suspended, so we need to make a decision there and don’t have another specialist left-back.
“Well, we do, but at the moment Connor Ogilvie is playing at centre-half because we’re without Clark Robertson and Paul Downing.
“We’re hoping John Marquis will be available and will have to see exactly where he’s at, while there’s good news that Ryan Tunnicliffe’s injury isn’t as bad as we initially thought.
“He’s about to go from the gym to the grass and so we’re confident that we’ll see him again before Christmas.”