Paul Merson is looking forward to playing on dry land at Molineux tonight.

Skipper Merson's skills were cancelled out by the puddles at Fratton Park as Pompey lost their first home game of the season against promotion rivals Leicester on Saturday.

But the former Aston Villa man reckons Pompey will return to winning ways in the Midlands.

He said: "It's going to be nice to play on a lovely big, dry pitch with loads of space to play.

"What happened on Saturday was laughable. If we'd lost 2-0 at home to Leicester and it had been dry I'd be fuming but it was just laughable - no-one can read anything into that result.

"It's a big game at Wolves, especially after losing to Leicester.

"If we win then we're right back in the driving seat, but it's going to be hard.

"Wolves are a threat along with Leicester, Norwich and Forest and Ipswich are going to come steaming up somewhere along the line. "

Gianluca Festa is out until the New Year after suffering knee ligament damage in a first half collision with teammate and fellow centre back Arjan De Zeeuw on Saturday.

De Zeeuw (groin strain) is also out, and boss Harry Redknapp said: "We have only two fit defenders at the club currently - Linvoy Primus and Paul Ritchie - and one of those is on loan.

"It's desperate, my three first-choice centre-halves, De Zeeuw, Festa and Foxe, are all out. Even my back-ups like Eddie Howe, Carl Tiler and Jamie Vincent are not ready. I will be forced to play people out of position.

"I only have three fit strikers at the club to choose from - Pericard, Todorov and Burchill - and again one of them is on loan.

"You can't have that sort of thing if you are challenging for promotion. We have simply not got enough strength in depth when we get injuries.

"You won't find the likes of Leicester, Wolves, Derby, with the depth of quality resources they have, struggling to field a side."

Pompey squad: Hislop, Kawaguchi, Primus, Ritchie, Taylor, Harper, O'Neil, Robinson, Quashie, Diabate, Merson, Pericard, Todorov, Burchill.