DOWN-TO-EARTH Edgeley Park is the last place you would associate with intrigue, subterfuge, sub-plot and counter-plot.

But the whisperings and mutterings surrounding Pompey's trip to Stockport County tomorrow mean the three points at stake are almost of secondary importance.

For a start, although nobody will dare breathe it, this is already shaping up as a relegation six pointer, even in the first week of October.

Then you've also got the swords hanging over respective managers Tony Pulis and Andy Kilner.

Neither will be on particularly solid ground if they lose, with the Pompey boss already having made his views clear as he heads for a head-on clash of wills with chairman Milan Mandaric.

Pompey are looking to end a five-game winless league and cup run, their last win being the 2-0 victory over Tranmere on September 12.

Tranmere's sole win this season came on the opening day against Gillingham.

Since then, they have been humbled out of the Worthington Cup by Blackpool, and have drawn four and lost four of their league games.

And for a side whose home form has been their strength, it will be a worry to Stockport that they haven't won at home this season.

That was only Pompey's second league win of the season, although manager Pulis insists they could have had more wins under their belt before now.

"There have been three games where we drew when we could have won. We're that close, and had we won those games we have drawn, we would have six more points and people would be talking about play-offs and stuff like that," said Pulis, who will try and ensure that tomorrow's clash at Stockport County is not defender Bernard Lambourde's last game for Pompey.

At the very least, Pulis is confident that both Lambourde and Chelsea will be happy to extend the month's loan that is due to end after tomorrow's match.

And Pulis will then try and work on loosening chairman Milan Mandaric's wallet to try and make Lambourde's loan spell permanent, even though the Pompey chairman has insisted that there is no more money until the Fratton Park wage bill is lightened.

"He's a class player, he likes being around the other players and they like having him around," said Pulis, who has already spoken with Chelsea chief executive Colin Hutchinson about taking the Frenchman on loan for a second month.

Defender Justin Edinburgh and winger Kevin Harper are also likely to be involved after lengthy spells out through injury, although neither will play a full match, and Pulis must decide whether to start one or both, or use them from the bench.

Midfielder Gary O'Neill is out of action and is still waiting for X-ray results to see how serious his injured ankle is.

Central defender Linvoy Primus trained yesterday but is still a doubt with a thigh injury, and if he is unfit, it will present the Pompey boss with a problem in the centre of his defence.