PRESTON North End face a big task as they take on rampant Portsmouth at Fratton Park tonight.

Pompey hope to welcome back Italian defender Gianluca Festa as they bid to extend their lead at the top of the Nationwide League's first division.

The former Middlesbrough player missed Saturday's 3-0 win at Burnley with a slight knock but is hoping to return as Pompey, six points clear of next best side Norwich, host 16th-placed Preston.

Manager Harry Redknapp will otherwise have the same squad that triumphed at Turf Moor on duty as they look for a second win over Lancashire opposition in the space of four days.

Eddie Howe, Hayden Foxe and Rory Allen remain on the sidelines through injury.

Craig Brown's Preston have made a disappointing start to the season but could move into the top half if they can inflict defeat on Pompey at Fratton Park for the first time this season.

North End will travel south buoyed by a 1-0 win over Reading in their last outing.

Richard Creswell, who sank the Royals with the only goal of the game on Saturday, should be fit to play alongside David Healy despite a foot injury. Healy also played at the weekend in spite of a painful septic blister but should pass fit again.

Ricardo Fuller definitely misses out as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension, meaning Pawel Abbott is likely to keep his place on the bench after being recalled from his loan at Bury.