Pompey assistant manager Jim Smith returns to Pride Park tomorrow to do battle with a Derby County side he led to the Premier League in 1996.

But the 'Bald Eagle' said he was surprised at the turn of events that saw him move back to Fratton Park. He admitted: "If you had told me two years ago I would be coming to Pride Park with Pompey I would have said you were mad. It just shows what an ironic game this is."

Typically professional, Smith is philosophical about his return, adding: "I know it's a clich but this is just another game for me. Derby is in the past and Pompey is the present.

"But it's funny because I remember having just taken over at Derby, being due to meet Pompey, and saying exactly the same thing in reverse!

"It really is funny I'm going back with Pompey at the top of the table. I remember we played Pompey at the old Baseball Ground, when Derby were top of the table, and won 3-0. We never looked back from then on and went from strength to strength.

"Now you could say the tables have turned and let's hope we can produce a result which keeps us on the boil. Certainly we had to dig in at Wolves and a draw was a great result, given the problems we had over the previous few days."

Derby boss John Gregory acknowledged Pompey's quality by saying: "On paper this looks like a Premiership fixture, with Portsmouth having so many household names, and doing so well.

"For our part, we have beaten two teams from Sheffield, but we can only prove it isn't a coincidence by seeing off Portsmouth.

Relegated last season and heavily in debt, Derby have struggled with their best form away from Pride Park, but they are showing signs of mounting a challenge for a play-off spot after those consecutive wins against the Sheffield clubs.

The Rams are hoping that strikers Ravenelli and Christie can return after injury but are still missing key players like Burley, Carbonari, Riggott, Mawene and O'Neil.

Pompey are likely to face Deon Burton, who made a great impression on loan at Fratton Park earlier in the season, after he scored the winner last week against The Blades in Derby's first home win since August. But ex-Pompey man Mart Poom will be missing in goal, suspended after his sending-off at Millwall.

Harry Redknapp, with only 15 fit players available, will have a make-shift defence but is likely to continue with a flat back-four, with Linvoy Primus and Paul Ritchie deputising in the centre, and Steve Stone and Matthew Taylor playing out of position in the full back roles.

Pompey Squad: Hislop, Kawaguchi, Primus, Ritchie, Taylor, Stone, Robinson, Diabate, Quashie, O'Neil, Merson, Todorov, Pericard, Burchill, Cooper.