Oli Hawkins needs to start firing for Pompey as they aim for a second consecutive promotion.

Brett Pitman has been ruled out for another game due to a hamstring injury, so Portsmouth need Hawkins to prove his worth. Gillingham sit just below them in the table and any slip up against them would see the Gills profit as well as the teams above.

Pompey's next five games are a perfect chance for Hawkins because they play Gillingham, Oldham, Bradford City, Oxford United and Walsall. They should be at least aiming for nine points from those games. However, they need someone to provide the goals if they are to achieve that.

It's important for Hawkins personally if he is to have any chance of unseating Pitman from the main striker position.

Based on the three games he has been involved in since Pitman was injured, he hasn't done enough to maintain a starting place. His only contribution so far was the goal that assured victory against Fleetwood Town.

Pitman could be back by the end of the aforementioned five game run, so Hawkins has to start being consistent if he is to have any chance of maintaining a starting place. These five games are a springboard that he can use to finish the season strongly.

This has been an impressive first season for the club back in League One so far because they are realistically safe from relegation if not mathematically. However, they will no doubt have ambitions of reaching the play-offs considering how close they are, so this is a great opportunity for them with the teams above them being in mixed form aside from rivals Plymouth.

Pompey fans... do you agree? Let us know below!