Pompey approach the final two games of the season knowing that the highest they can finish in the League One standings is seventh.
Saturday’s opponents Derby, meanwhile, are desperately trying to cling onto a play-off position with Peterborough breathing down their necks.
So there is certainly more to motivate one of the teams taking to the pitch at Pride Park this weekend.
But having overseen an upturn in form since taking charge in January, John Mousinho wants to ensure his side remain competitive.
The Blues boss said: “It was pleasing to get into a position where we were challenging for the play-offs, but unfortunately we couldn’t quite get there.
“When you strip everything back and look at the form over the past 21 games, then we can think it’s given us a good foundation for what we want to achieve next season.
“I don’t think you saw a side that was ‘on the beach’ last Saturday, even if we weren’t entirely happy with the performance over 90 minutes.
"There’s professional pride first and foremost, while some of them are playing for their futures – here or elsewhere."
“Accrington are a tough side, as we saw when they went to Bolton earlier in the week and got a good win.
“If we’d been in beach mode, then we would have got turned over, so the message is that whatever the circumstances, there’s always something to play for.
“There’s professional pride first and foremost, while some of them are playing for their futures – here or elsewhere.”
Derby are looking to bounce straight back up to the Championship having recovered from the financial mess that saw them relegated last term.
Mousinho said: “They’re a strong side and challenging at the top end of the table, although it was always going to be tough for them after what happened before.
“There’s a strong squad there, with a lot of excellent players who are probably competing below their level.
“Paul Warne has got multiple promotions from this division and they’re a real threat, so we expect a difficult test at Pride Park.
“We have to make sure we’re professional about how we approach the game, but it could take the pressure off us, so we have to use that to our advantage.”