New manager Richie Barker saw Portsmouth win for the first time under his stewardship when they defeated Dagenham & Redbridge by a single goal on Boxing Day and said afterwards: "We played some good football in the first half and, in the last 20 minutes when Dagenham stepped up the pressure, showed a real desire to not allow our lead to slip away."
15,192 watched the game and caretaker boss Andy King will hope his Northampton side rise to the challenge of playing the biggest name in the division on their own turf.
The fixture marks the halfway mark of an horrific season to date for the Cobblers who issued a club statement on Friday to explain the lack of comments made by chairman David Cardoza on both the departure of Aidy Boothroyd and the search for his replacement as negotiations on a settlement continue.