Portsmouth fans are ready to throw a party for their Wembley heroes at home to Newcastle tonight - complete with fancy dress and Harry Redknapp comedy masks.
FA Cup fever had already taken over on the south coast well before last weekend's semi-final triumph against West Brom which put Redknapp's Pompey in their first final since 1939.
They will start strong favourites against another Coca-Cola Championship side Cardiff on May 17 but are not about to ease up in the league - particularly because Redknapp's side are still also pressing for fifth spot and a UEFA Cup place after Tuesday's win at West Ham, their 13th away triumph this season.
Kevin Keegan's Newcastle - the club Redknapp could have joined in January but declined - are Pompey's visitors tonight and local paper The News has issued thousands of free cut-out "King Harry" masks for fans to wear in front of the live TV cameras.
Already some fans have been wearing sailor-suits and other Pompey-inspired regalia in the stands and chief executive Peter Storrie said: "It ought to be some party against Newcastle."
Yesterday the Portsmouth squad were measured for their traditional cup final suits but Redknapp revealed that goalkeeper David James, who has known to favour some fairly bizarre personal outfits, is banned from helping to suggest the design.
Redknapp said: "We found out it was Jamo's fault that Liverpool wore those creamy white suits before the (1996) final because he was involved with Armani, or someone like that, and we are not letting him do it to us.
"I'm picking the suits. They are going to be blue and if the players think the style is a bit old-fashioned it doesn't bother me."
Redknapp's humour illustrates the feelgood factor at Pompey right now and he insists he has no regrets about turning down Newcastle's lucrative offer in January.
He said: "Newcastle is a fantastic club with everything a manager could want but I couldn't be happier here. I would be a liar if I promised we could do much better than we've done this season.
"We've reached the final of the FA Cup and pushing for fifth in the league. If we get both it is going to take some beating in future seasons with the top four as they are, despite all the plans the owner here has for a new training ground and a new stadium.
"Kevin Keegan's a great choice for Newcastle. He'll always be a legend up there and I'm glad to see his team has found a bit of form although that's no surprise now he's got Mark Viduka, Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins all back playing.
"But we've got a terrific squad, too - quality players with a great spirit that has got us through games where we haven't played that well. There is not one disruptive element, a moaner or one you would like to see out of the door."
Redknapp has cup-tied top-scorer Jermain Defoe - who has scored eight goals in seven games - back after missing the last two matches but Milan Baros (calf) and John Utaka (hamstring) are again ruled out and midfield star Lassana Diarra (thigh) is still a major doubt after missing three of the last four games.
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