Pompey can seal a return to the Championship this evening by avoiding defeat against Barnsley in their Sky Bet League One fixture.
The Blues had the opportunity to do it at the weekend but they were held to a 1-1 draw against Bolton Wanderers and the results didn't go in their favour. Pompey now know though that a draw tonight will earn them promotion whilst a victory would give them the league title.
It's 4,371 days exactly that Portsmouth last played in the Championship. They knew that they were already relegated when they arrived at the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday, April 28, 2012.
A miserable season was compounded by a defeat to the Reds on the final day of the 2011/12 campaign. Michael Appleton was the man in charge at the time whilst Forest were managed by Steve Cotterill, who was in charge of the club until his departure in mid-October.
For the whole of the first half and more than a quarter of the second they held out but eventually Forest broke the deadlock. Dexter Blackstock scored with a left-footed shot after being set up by Garath McCleary. Blackstock was at the double in the final minute of normal time as he headed home from an Andy Reid corner.
The result saw Portsmouth finish on 40 points, finishing 22nd ahead of Coventry City on goal difference, but eight points off of tonight's opponents Barnsley who finished above them. Pompey were relegated the immediate season after spending four seasons in League Two before being promoted in 2017, and they've been in the third tier of English football for seven seasons since.
After many failed attempts with various different managers and players, John Mousinho is the man who has them within touching distance of the Championship. Ahead of what could be a huge night for the club, we take a trip down memory lane to look at the last Pompey team to play in the division the club has craved returning to.
1. GK: Jamie Ashdown
Finished playing in 2015 with his last professional club being Oxford United. Departed for Leeds United among many others and spent two years there before joining Crawley Town. Resumed his playing career in 2022 for Ascot United. Was a owner of a cafe business but that shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic and since then he was working for his father's hardware store.
2. LB: Joel Ward
Left for Crystal Palace for a reported £400,000. He's been at Selhurst Park since, helping them win promotion and has gone on to play 11 seasons in the Premier League.
3. CB: Karim Rekik
Was on loan from Manchester City and made eight appearances. Got a loan move to Blackburn Rovers the season later and then PSV. Left Man City in 2015 for Marseille and later played for Hertha Berlin as well as Sevilla. Won the Eredivise and the UEFA Europa League during his career. He's now playing for Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.
4. CB: Ricardo Rocha
He was released but ended up returning to the club despite trialling with Leeds United and Ipswich Town. Left in 2013, and didn't play again. Rocha became distanced from football for several years. He now has the aims of becoming a sporting director as he works as a pundit in his native Portugal.