Redknapp's pledge: We won't take it easy

Following a 2-0 win over relegation rivals Birmingham City, Fulham go to Fratton Park knowing that victory will seal their place in the top flight next season.

But any hopes Roy Hodgson's men had of exploiting a weakened Pompey side that might have had one eye on the following week's date at Wembley have been dashed by Redknapp.

The Cup finalists will still be missing England goalkeeper David James, whose calf injury kept him out of the defeat at Middlesbrough at the weekend, but Redknapp has pledged to play fair with Birmingham and Reading who are still fighting to avoid the drop.

"I certainly won't be putting a reserve side out," he said. " It's disrespectful and wouldn't be fair to the other teams battling with Fulham to survive, so I will be putting out my strongest side and looking to win the game."

Indeed, Redknapp insisted he will use the fixture as a warm-up to the Cup showdown against Cardiff.

He said: "Some players will need to show me they want to be part of the side at Wembley."

Redknapp did acknowledge that Fulham's players will also be on a mission. He said: "They're flying. They looked like they were down a couple of weeks back but they went to Reading and won and suddenly it gave them a lift.

"Then they came back from the dead against Manchester City which was an amazing result, and now they've beaten Birmingham. You pick up a result and a bit of belief comes back, you start to believe you can do it. On Sunday, they will be absolutely at it, it will be a fierce game."

Hodgson agreed, saying; "Portsmouth will be a very dangerous-opponent. Their players will use the game to keep themselves in good shape ready for the Cup Final."

After Brian McBride's diving header and a cool late strike by substitute Erik Nevland lifted Fulham out of the bottom three for the first time since just before Christmas, Hodgson knows his big job now will be keeping his players focused.

Hodgson said: "The atmosphere after the Birmingham game was euphoric and I'm really happy about that because you should always grab the good moments in football.

"But we're not finished yet. That euphoria could turn to sadness if we're not capable of beating Portsmouth and we find ourselves relegated.

"We'll work very hard this week to make certain we're as prepared as possible.

"Sunday could be a great night like the one after beating Birmingham, but it might also be a very bad night."