Boss Paul Hurst covered a wide range of topics during his pre-Portsmouth press conference.
Town travel to take on John Mousinho's league leaders on Saturday - with Pompey unbeaten in their last 14 games in League One.
Salop, though, are unbeaten in their last three outings and have lost just once in six away games since Paul Hurst returned to the club as boss.
Our latest result on the road came at Bristol Rovers on Easter Monday - with Town coming away with a point despite the gaffer being far from pleased with the performance.
Speaking to the assembled media, Paul discussed what the players have been working on since that trip to The Memorial Stadium.
And the boss also spoke about the overall fitness of the squad and gave an update on injured duo Jack Price and Rayhaan Tulloch.
On the past few days since Bristol Rovers:
“It’s been fine – business as normal.
“We have had a couple of days to rest and recover after being in over the Easter weekend.
“Now we are fully focused on a nice, easy, game at Portsmouth!”
On the overall fitness of the players and whether it can be improved at this stage of the season:
“I think it’s been hard to do too much ever since we’ve come in.
“For some people that might seem surprising or a little bit strange because we’ve had a few months.
“We’ve definitely changed in terms of how we train.
“I’m not saying that’s right or wrong. We’ve just trained how we like to train.
“And I think they have done more running than they’d done previously.
“But at the same time, you are only going to get so much improvement because we have had quite a lot of games to fit in.
“It is difficult. I’ve spoken about mentality as well. In terms of that willingness to run and dig deep to get something extra out of yourself.
“I’ve watched a few games recently, and we spoke this morning – on my drive here – about fatigue and the time of the season.
“I get it has been a long, hard, season. But, for me, that is an easy excuse. I don’t buy it too much.
It doesn’t stop me, Chris, and the rest of the staff, pushing the players to get the best out of them – especially when we still need points to secure our safety in League One.
“For me, that is a big enough incentive to be able to push yourself.”
On what the group have been working on since Monday:
“We worked today on some team shape ahead of the Portsmouth game. Hopefully, they get that.
“We gave them some video footage first and then worked on the training pitch.
“They will get some more footage and we will do some more walk-throughs tomorrow ahead of travelling down.
“You hope they take it on board and get it. I guess we will find out on Saturday to a degree.
“I feel we are going to have to be good, we are going to have to be disciplined against the team that, the table, says is the best in the league.
“I’m sure lots of us saw the game the other night against a good Derby side where although they didn’t get the victory – they were at home and they got the crowd behind them.
“They got on top of that game at times. If they can do that to Derby, I’m sure in their minds they will be getting three points on Saturday.”
On Jack Price’s fitness after he missed the Bristol Rovers game:
"He’s better, he did not train with the group today though.
"So the plan for him is to join in on Friday and it will be a case of seeing how he reacts to training to see if we can involve him at the weekend.
“We think the injury is just soreness and muscle fatigue.
"That is what we are certainly hoping and that is how he has reported in today, a lot better – so we think that is what it is.
"One thing I would say, the pitches, as it just seems to rain every day are heavy.
“That probably does not help Jack in that sense.
"But the fact he has been out for so long and when he has gone on he has been really desperate to impress.
"Obviously it was great him getting the goal (against Oxford) and he contributed the other time he was on.
“But it is taking longer to recover realistically, but we know where we are at with him between now and the end of the season, as in what his role can potentially be.
"Hopefully he can at least play that part.”
On what Jack is like in the dressing room:
"He gets the respect of the players straight away.
"With the type of character he is, people will naturally have a lot of time for him and listen to him.
“We have had it with some senior lads in the past – they maybe say something – and you can see lads not really taking it in or maybe they haven’t quite got that respect.
“But I think that’s totally different with Jack, the way that he is, the way that he carries himself and the way he delivers any advice he is giving.
“That’s great for us and great for the other players that they got someone with that experience who knows what he is talking about.
“Like I said, he has ultimately got the respect of the group.”
On Rayhaan Tulloch’s fitness:
"He has trained today. He said he felt fine so he will come into consideration for the squad.
“With us travelling, we are going to have to leave a couple of lads at home. That hasn’t been finalised.
“Jack’s situation is one of those reasons.
“In terms of being available, he (Rayhaan) should be for us.”
On Jordan Shipley being back from suspension:
“For Shippz it’s felt like a long time – although he did keep saying he had forgotten he was suspended.
“I think that maybe helped him get through a couple of training sessions, thinking he’s going to be ready for the game.
“Then he remembered he wasn’t available! It was maybe a good thing in one sense.
“He’s been an ever-present since I came in.
“Aiden (O’Brien) has come in and done well. And Shippz can play different positions, also.
“So I’m pleased to have him back and available for selection.”
On having options:
“It’s nice. It’s not been too bad since I’ve come in all-be-it we’ve had injuries and suspensions to what – I would suggest – are bigger players.
“But we have, since I’ve been here, been able to pick stronger squads in the main. For whatever reason that is.
“It’s nice to have options, I’d rather that than be really scratching around to fill the bench.”
On the atmosphere at Portsmouth:
“We went to Derby but where we are in the season and how close they are to finally getting out of League One – which has been too long for them and their fan base.
“You could see the excitement the other day and they were drawing the game. The stands were bouncing.
“There will be a big crowd. I would have thought 20,000 or very close to it. And our lads have to cope with that.
“A lot of eyes will be on Portsmouth and the fact it will edge them closer depending on other results.
“But we are not just going there to fulfil the fixture. That’s certainly not the attitude I want the players to go in with.
“I want us to compete. We have got to try and get something from the game.
“Their record at the minute, and the way they are going, we know it’s going to be tough.
“And for most people, it will be a home win. But we have got to try and cause a little bit of a surprise on that front.
“We need first and foremost to have that mentality that we are not lambs to the slaughter. I said that to them this morning.
“We have got to try and soak that atmosphere up and use it for our own good.
“Can we try and turn the crowd? Because it’s a great place to play – and I’m sure this season that near-enough it always has been – but I’ve also been there when things aren’t going as expected and they can get on the players’ backs at times.
“That is something we have got to try and do.”
