Sylvain Distin has told his Portsmouth team-mates they have nothing to fear from Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final trip to Manchester United.
Manager Harry Redknapp has described the tie against Sir Alex Ferguson's treble-chasers as the draw from hell.
Defender Distin insists the south-coast side are capable of causing an upset and booking their first semi-final since a 1992 defeat to Liverpool.
Former Manchester City star Distin said: "Every season you see results that people call miracles. It is not about that.
"Teams go to Old Trafford thinking 'We are going to win' and they fight from the first to the last second. That is what we have to do.
"If we are ready physically and mentally and we keep our shape, we have enough quality to battle against United.
"I don't think they are a team we cannot beat."
Pompey have not beaten United at Old Trafford in Redknapp's two spells in charge at Fratton Park and were two goals down in 13 minutes in January's Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired 2-0 Premier League defeat.
However, Frenchman Distin said Pompey will not be playing for a replay.
"I am not going there to avoid defeat. I am going there to win," the centre-back added.
"If you go there to avoid defeat, mentally, you are not ready and there is no point in going there.
"It is the FA Cup and is a completely different game so anything can happen. It is 11 against 11."
Redknapp recorded the most famous win of his 25-year managerial career when he led tiny Bournemouth to a 2-0 third round victory over then holders United in 1984.
The veteran boss has called upon his team to recapture the spirit of Wimbledon's famous Crazy Gang of the 1980s and 90s to help conquer the league champions.
Redknapp said: "Wimbledon were a force. They played a different game to what everyone else knows. It was so hard to play against.
"They could beat anyone on any given day because of the aggression they played with.
"They would wait in the tunnel for teams and threaten them as they came out. They would bang your dressing room door and kick it.
"Vinny Jones would be calling you a bunch of cowards and half your players would freeze.
"I do not know what would happen if it happened now. It would be interesting, especially with all the foreign players.
"I do not know how they would cope. I don't see us bashing up Rio (Ferdinand) though and I would not like to threaten Wayne Rooney either."
Redknapp last dumped United out of the cup as West Ham manager in 2001 when Paolo Di Canio fooled Fabien Barthez to notch a famous winning goal.
"I have played Manchester United eight times as a manager in the FA Cup. That is a lot of times for a manager," Redknapp said.
"We have a team that can go anywhere and win. We have proved that with our away from this season so we are looking forward to it."
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