The Tractor Boys drive down to Fratton Park tomorrow with Pompey's Paul Merson a great admirer of Ipswich - rating them as the second best side, behind his own, in the First Division.

Merson said: "I firmly believe that Ipswich are a better team than (second-placed) Leicester.

"They beat us down here I know, but they were helped by the waterlogged pitch on the day.

"We have to be sharp against Ipswich - they have the potential to be the very best in this division.

"But the league table shows that we are the best and you don't do what we've done by accident.

"What Ipswich have done so far has been the biggest disappointment of the season for me. And I think the UEFA Cup has been partly to blame.

"Ipswich is a long way from most places, and to have league trips, after coming back on a Friday from a Thursday game in Europe, can't have helped them."

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp added: "They've surprised me. With their squad and players it's amazing - I thought they'd win the league.

"They are a surprise packet alright, for the wrong reasons. I honestly thought at this stage we'd be where they are, and they'd be where we are.

"It should be a good game, and we won't see a better team than Ipswich at Fratton this season.

"I still think they'll make the play-offs and, if that happens, then they will go up for sure.

"I thought 18 months ago that Ipswich were a club going places.

"They had the best academy side in the country, their reserves had just won the league, and the first team finished fifth in the Premiership.

"I don't really know what's gone wrong but they are full of experienced players, many of whom did well in the Premiership.".

Away from home, Ipswich have won at Walsall, Wimbledon and Watford, but it is at home where they have struggled. Highly-rated striker Marcus Bent will be missing through injury, but top scorer Pablo Counago, a Spanish Under-21 international, will be the one to watch.

For Pompey, on-loan defender Paul Ritchie has returned to Manchester City for treatment on an ankle injury and will miss out, but wing-back Matthew Taylor is likely to recover from a heavy cold in time to play.

Pompey: (from) Hislop, Kawaguchi, Primus, De Zeeuw, Foxe, Taylor, Crowe, Harper, Robinson, Diabate, Quashie, O'Neil, Barrett, Burchill, Burton, Todorov