Britannia Stadium, Sunday 1600 GMTSTOKE CITY:
What a difference a few months can make. After leading Stoke to the safety of midtable last season, manager Tony Pulis now finds himself under increasing scrutiny from sceptical supporters.
The disappointing 2-1 defeat at Hull City has sent the Stoke supporters' messageboards into overdrive, bemoaning Pulis's tactics, his treatment of Tuncay and Liam Lawrence and the decision to loan out leading scorer Dave Kitson to Championship club Middlesbrough.
Suddenly this game against the Premier League's bottom club takes on extra significance as Stoke attempt to secure only their second home win in two months.
Tuncay, who stormed off down the tunnel after his early substitution at the KC Stadium, has made his peace with Pulis and could even start this game against Portsmouth, with concerns over the fitness of James Beattie.
"Tuncay has been absolutely fantastic in training," admitted Pulis. "We have spoken about what happened at Hull and I can completely understand his reaction.
"In one of the training sessions this week Leon Cort has completely cleaned him out with an incredible tackle but 'Tunny' just got up and shook hands! So there is certainly nothing wrong with his spirit and personality.
"His attitude has been spot on and he needs to realise that last season we finished 12th. At the moment we're ninth so he wasn't just going to walk into the team, we've already got good players here."
Strategy: Revenge may well be on the agenda for Stoke following their 4-0 crushing at Fratton Park in the Carling Cup last month. Pulis will need his players to ensure the return of the fear factor for teams visiting the Potteries after tossing away a 2-0 lead in such disappointing fashion to Wolves in their last home outing.
Ricardo Fuller is playing better than last season, according to Pulis, but is still yet to score so there will be no more ideal time than to score against his former club. Stoke's solid, colossal defensive four should have more than enough to deal with Premier League novices Aruna Dindane and Frederic Piquionne.
Injury Update: Beattie has had an injection to cure persistent knee and ankle problems and will be touch and go. Glenn Whelan, who was one of the Republic of Ireland players cruelly denied a World Cup chance by the hand of Henry, is doubtful with a groin problem while Abdoulaye Faye is suspended after his dismissal at Hull earlier this month.
PORTSMOUTH:
Portsmouth's recent revival was brought to a bone-jarring halt by a physical Blackburn side before the international break and manager Paul Hart is well aware his side will face more of the same when they travel to the Britannia Stadium.
The fixture list has looked kindly on Pompey this weekend, however and, should Wolves lose at Chelsea earlier in the day, Hart's side will kick off with the additional incentive of knowing that victory will lift them off the foot of the Premier League.
The chances of that happening, though, hinge on Portsmouth's ability to learn the lessons of Ewood Park where they threw away a 1-0 lead, eventually losing 3-1. "You can pick things up from every game," Hart said. "Basically, we got done on set pieces. It's a salutary lesson. Stoke are very big, strong and direct, although maybe not quite as direct as Blackburn. We have to set up properly. We try to cover all bases."
Portsmouth's hopes - and morale - have been lifted by the return of Aruna Dindane, Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda following international duty. Dindane showed he has overcome a back problem by appearing twice for the Ivory Coast against Guinea and Germany last week while Belhadj and Yebda returned safely and in good spirits having secured Algeria's place in South Africa with a 2-0 aggregate play - off victory over Egypt.
"They have to do it for their country," Hart said. "Aruna was very tight after Blackburn and it was back-related, but he had to go. He did very well for Ivory Coast, and created three goals. He played 87 minutes and came through okay."
Strategy: Hart is well drilled on Stoke's pattern of play and believes his backline are capable of nullifying their direct method of attack. "Their style of play is obviously a threat because they get it from back to front very quickly," said the manager. "Stoke have done very well over the past few years. They play on set-pieces and long throws and have two big lads up front. They have kept the same team together and are settled. They have played the same way for two to three years."
Goals have been a problem for Portsmouth on their travels and their miserly return of three away league goals is matched only by Blackburn. Nine goals in the three games before the international break suggest this area of Pompey's game is improving and Hart will expect the blossoming partnership of Dindane and Frederic Piquionne to trouble Stoke.
Injury update: Left back Hermann Hreidarsson showed he has recovered from hamstring injury with a 65-minute appearance in a friendly with Cheltenham and could make the squad for the first time this season. Papa Bouba Diop needs another week to recover from his groin injury though winger John Utaka (thigh) and right back Steve Finnan (groin) inch ever closer to their much-anticipated returns.
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