There have been plenty of league meetings between Pompey and Derby down the years.
But Friday evening’s televised south contest will be the first to take place outside of English football’s top two tiers.
Both sides have ambitions for a return to former glories and currently sit inside the League One play-off spots.
Marlon Pack is certainly hoping he can help inspire a climb up a division, but knows the Blues have to start securing more wins.
The midfielder said: “It’s a really big fixture – one that we would have seen in the Premier League not too long ago.
“Fratton Park under the lights always creates a fantastic atmosphere and it’s one we’re all looking forward to.
“We’ve all got ambitions to become Championship teams again and the number of draws has been frustrating, although we could easily have won half of those.
“We go into every game hoping to collect all three points, but you have to realise that it’s never going to be as easy as just turning up and getting the result.
"Fratton Park under the lights always creates a fantastic atmosphere and it’s one we’re all looking forward to."
“We’ve got a good group of lads here and the right attitude. It would be great if we could get back to winning ways on Friday.”
Pack returned to the side for last week’s draw at Morecambe after being out for almost a month with a hamstring problem.
He said: “It was a frustrating period for me and it’s only my second ever injury as a pro, so it’s not something I was used to.
“Now I feel as good as I can be, although it’s always a process when you’re coming back and trying to manage it.
“My body’s quite robust and I think that probably allowed me to heal a bit quicker than the injury might have suggested.
“You learn to deal with the frustration and all my energy was directed towards making sure I came back and helping the lads however I could.
“I’ve just found it nice to be back training with the boys and enjoyed getting out on the pitch again last week.”
Pompey’s midfield will not include Joe Morrell against the Rams, with the Wales international currently in Qatar on World Cup duty.
Pack said: “We’re really pleased for him and it’s a fantastic opportunity. It’s a loss for us, but we’ll all be cheering him on – except when they play England!”