Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett has challenged his fringe players to be ready if called upon as their season enters the final stages.

Pompey are currently fourth in the League One table, but have a game in hand over third-placed Barnsley and still have Sunderland to play.

That's sparked belief they might still be in the hunt for a top two finish, but Jackett has revealed he might need to call on some of his lesser seen stars over the last six matches.

"As a manager, you can’t do it with 11, you can’t be successful over a long period of time," he told Portsmouth.co.uk. "You have to continually work at individual routines because we all think of ourselves to a great degree."

That's prompted him to send a clear message to the likes of James Vaughan and Brandon Haunstrup who have struggled for minutes.

"My message is to be ready – you have to be ready because football changes. There are guys who have responded very well and come back into the team during the second half of the season to help us."

Pompey face Burton and Sunderland away from home, but still have four matches to play at Fratton Park, the first of which is this weekend against struggling Rochdale.

The Verdict

The gap between Portsmouth and Sunderland is three points, but with a game in hand there's everything to play for. Goal difference favours the Black Cats, but with that trip to the Stadium of Light to take into account, there's plenty of life left in the season yet.

Portsmouth have a decent squad, the likes of Lloyd Isgrove hasn't kicked a ball as yet, but they'll want a settled side in the final six matches, even if Jackett is trying to keep his fringe players motivated.