Pompey look to be on their way back after a complete and utter collapse in recent years. They went from FA Cup winners to League Two in just four years.
Firstly under Paul Cook and latterly Kenny Jackett, they've turned their fortunes around. To have once been a part of the elite 20 teams that make up the Premier League must be hard, but certainly humbling now they have tasted life at the bottom.
They've started this season well and the early indications are that they might be troubling to top two at the end of the season, possibly resulting in a return to the Championship.
It's been a long road, one upon which they still travel, but a result against Rochdale this weekend will help the cause. Here at FLW, we think we've got the starting XI that will help them achieve it.
MacGillivray has no clean sheets in three, but having played all nine of his side's opening matches, he's a certain to start.
He's only got 29 Football League appearances to his name at present, but is growing into his first proper stint of football.
Thompson made over 157 league starts for Swindon before his Pompey move and should definitely be in at right back.
He's made five league appearances this season but already has three bookings.
The 28-year old started life at QPR, but had to go via Salisbury and Hayes & Yeading in order to get back into the Football League.
With 270 starts for Bristol Rovers, he's got plenty of experience and that will help with the upcoming promotion campaign.
Clarke is forging a reputation as one of the finest centre backs outside the top two divisions.
Rest assured, he's going to the Championship next season, with or without Pompey.
Burgess forms the remainder of the back four and he's another pro, long in the tooth at just 26.
With 118 starts for his current side and 188 in the Football League, he's already experienced and a solid campaigner.
Portsmouth like a holding midfielder, the first of which should be Ben Close.
He's emerged from the Pompey youth set up and looks to be one for the future. His performances of late have been very assured for a 22-year old.
27-year old Naylor is on his seventh club, but having been a part of Burton's rise to the Championship he's got what it takes to get out of League One.
He's ever-present in the league this season and a vital cog in a well-oiled machine.
There's a bank of three in front of the packed set up which starts with Gareth Evans.
He's scored three in eight so far this season and is the ideal goal scoring central midfielder with experience to spare.
On one side of the attacking three will be Jamal Lowe.
He was plucked from non-league obscurity in January 2017 and has forged a reputation and a quick and tricky forward.
On the other side, the man of the moment, Ronan Curtis.
The former Derry City man has been untouchable this campaign, smashing nine in fifteen games. He hasn't scored in two though, so watch out Rochdale.
The target man up top should, in our opinion, be Brett Pitman. He's been frozen out of late, Ollie Hawkins preferred, but Pitman is a constant danger and scored against Wycombe at the weekend.
Want to put four past Rochdale like Sunderland did? Play Pitman.