GIANLUCA Festa is the big injury worry for Portsmouth ahead of tomorrow's game as they cope with a number of injury problems.

But with a squad the size that most first division manager's would envy, the table-toppers will still arrive at Turf Moor in good shape.

No other first division manager has brought in more players this season than Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp but he insisted that this week's addition of Steve Stone was to cope with the current crisis.

"To be honest I have only got 13 players fit and available for Saturday without Steve Stone," he said. "I have got about ten who are injured, I have a few out on loan but I did not want to bring them back so I brought Steve Stone in."

Redknapp is missing central defenders Hayden Foxe and Eddie Howe and that is why he is hoping the former Middlesbrough man will recover from a sore knee.

But the list of other casualties features players who would only be on the fringe of the first team at best.

Festa is just one of nine players brought in by Redknapp who are likely to feature against the Clarets, with another couple on the bench, but his Fratton Park revolution has paid immediate dividends as they head the race for the Premiership.

Only Norwich have beaten them in the league this year although they were relieved to maintain their unbeaten home record after being second best in a 1-1 draw with Coventry last weekend.

That was the score in both games between the two sides last season, the first when Graham Rix was in charge, the second early in Redknapp's reign following the sacking of the former Arsenal and England star.

Another man who can have that label is Paul Merson and he has been a key figure in the club's success this season after his move from Villa.

He is likely to feature in the hole behind a lone striker, either Vincent Pericard or Svetoslav Todorov.

The former is the man of the moment with five goals in his last five starts.