It has been 35 days since Pompey were last able to take to the pitch at Fratton Park.
A Covid outbreak put paid to the scheduled Boxing Day meeting with Oxford, while a clash with Wigan last week had to be moved because the opposition were in FA Cup action.
It means that the last home game was the 2-0 victory over Morecambe – courtesy of goals from Marcus Harness and Connor Ogilvie – back on December 11.
So Danny Cowley is excited that Pompey will be back on their own patch when MK Dons visit the south coast this weekend.
The Blues boss said: “It’s been an incredibly long time and we’ve missed Fratton Park, as well as our excellent supporters.
“It’ll be great to see them on Saturday. They mean a lot to us and we have to wish them a belated ‘Happy New Year’.
“We were starved of football over Christmas and so we’re looking forward to this upcoming run of games.
"Every single day we try to get better and I’m so ambitious for them for the second half of the season."
“The two Papa John’s Trophy matches were used for preparation purposes and we got some valuable minutes into the group, including Clark Robertson, Louis Thompson and Ryan Tunnicliffe.
“As a consequence, we’re physically in a really good place as we go into MK Dons and the other matches that are ahead.
“We’re on a 10-game unbeaten run in the league. I’m not sure I can say we’re definitely a good team yet because we’re still a work in progress, but that’s what we’re aiming for.
“Every single day we try to get better and I’m so ambitious for them for the second half of the season – there’s a lot to play for and I’m excited about what’s to come.”
Pompey’s opponents are sitting fifth in the League One standings following a midweek win over AFC Wimbledon.
Cowley said: “It’s a great game and we have nothing but respect for MK Dons, who have a clear identity and style.
“We’ve certainly got to thank them for giving us Andy Cullen, who had 12 great years at the club and did a brilliant job.
“It’s a game we’re really looking forward to and we feel like it’s an important one in our season. We’re motivated to find the best version of ourselves on Saturday.”