Rarely can an FA Cup semi-final have been approached with one team being written off so spectacularly.
Crisis-torn Portsmouth will give their all at Wembley but Avram Grant appears to be struggling to get 11 players out.
Jamie O'Hara will be a big miss as he's owned by Spurs and Pompey's cheeky request for him to play was obviously laughed out of town.
At least Aruna Dindane can play one more time before being consigned to the sidelines because of a clause in his contract meaning Pompey would have to buy him.
It's a farcical situation and the South Coast club can't afford to play bonuses to the players if they reach the final. Unless they waive their promised payments, they simply wouldn't be able to field a team of experienced players against Chelsea.
All that's pretty irrelevant because it's hard to see Pompey getting any change out of Spurs.
Five fresh injury worries were making Grant's demeanour even more downbeat than usual on Saturday and Tottenham have been our selection in this competition for some time.
Harry Redknapp's side showed worrying weaknesses at Sunderland but they'll probably save their slips for the outrageously harsh triple header of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United on the horizon.
By then, a return trip to Wembley should be sealed and maybe any failure to finish fourth won't be too frowned upon by the White Hart Lane faithful.
They should enjoy their day out today but 1/3 makes no appeal (Pompey are as big as 10s).
4-1 to Spurs is 20s with Sky Bet and we'll have a punt on that.
