David James will start Portsmouth's opener against Fulham despite being left out of the England squad to face Holland on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old has recovered from shoulder surgery so summer signing Antti Niemi will have to make do with a place on the bench.

New loan signing Anthony Vanden Borre will be in the squad if his move from Genoa receives international clearance but fellow new-boy Steve Finnan will not play due to a hamstring problem while Herman Hreidarsson is struggling with the same injury.

Aaron Mokoena, Nadir Belhadj and Niko Kranjcar are expected to return from international duty unscathed while Frederic Piquionne should make his debut following his loan move from Lyon.