Both sides are in impressive form of late, Town securing an excellent 2-1 victory away to Shrewsbury at the weekend to make it seven wins from their last ten games while Pompey took fourteen points from a possible eighteen in February.
That was despite a goalless draw against Oxford at the weekend after which manager Andy Awford was relaxed about his side's failure to snatch a winner and move closer to the play-off places.
Pompey won the corresponding league fixture 2-0 in August although the Cobblers were 2-1 winners at Fratton Park in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in October.