Could Portsmouth and Southampton be in the same division once again?
A decade ago it was Portsmouth who were enjoying South Coast superiority, toasting FA Cup success.
Their time at the top did not last much longer and Pompey crashed through the divisions right down into League Two.
Southampton rose up in their place and while there was no silverware to show for their efforts, the Saints were the picture of stability despite their team being raided by the Premier League’s big six for players and managers.
Now their luck may have run out, with a poor season leaving them with an uphill task to stay in the Premier League.
The Saints are in the relegation zone, although they still have a fair chance to survive, just two points from safety.
Fail, and two matches with rivals Portsmouth could await them next season.
Portsmouth are League One’s form team and they are in a great position to land a play-off place, currently only outside the top spots on goal difference.
They are bidding for a second successive promotion as Kenny Jackett’s side eye regaining their place in the Championship.
The last time Southampton and Portsmouth faced off it was in 2012, when the two teams were both in England’s second tier.
The two matches that season were draws, but it was the Saints who ended up smiling as they clinched promotion to the Premier League.
Portsmouth have plenty of work to do to get back on an even keel with Southampton, but the prospect of meeting their rivals next season should serve as an extra motivating factor.
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