Pompey are down to the proverbial bare bones for Saturday’s League One trip to Wycombe.
But Danny Cowley is determined that his squad should not use their lack of numbers as an excuse for anything less than a committed display.
Gavin Bazunu and Joe Morrell are both absent on international duty, while Clark Robertson, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Ellis Harrison are all currently injured.
Cowley is also sweating on the fitness of a couple more players, yet still expects to see plenty of fight from his side.
The Blues boss said: “We have some challenges and there are a couple away with their countries, so the squad is stretched at the moment.
“Gavin and Joe have been key players for us – they’re good enough to be a key part of their international teams.
“We’re very lucky that we have Alex Bass, though, and it’s probably the strongest department of our whole squad.
“He kept a clean sheet on Tuesday night and we have no worries there, while there’s also some depth in midfield.
"Perhaps they smelt a bit of blood and so we have to prove that we’re not going to roll over for anyone."
“So while we’ll certainly miss both Gavin and Joe, when one door closes for you, another one then opens.
“Wycombe chose to play the game, despite having three call-ups, and maybe they felt with our injuries and two key players away with their countries, it was a good time to play us.
“Perhaps they smelt a bit of blood and so we have to prove that we’re not going to roll over for anyone.
“It’s five unbeaten for us, with three clean sheets, and so they’ll see a really determined and committed team.”
The home side currently sit fourth in the table and have won all but one of their seven league matches at Adams Park.
Cowley said: “We have a lot of respect for Wycombe and the brilliant job that Gareth Ainsworth has done to take them from League Two to the Championship.
“They’re now one of the favourites for promotion this season and rightly so – you only have to look at the depth in their squad.
“There are so many attacking options and so we're aware how big the challenge is, but we know that we have to match them physically.
“Then we have to find the first pass and the second pass, looking to get some rhythm in our performance.”