Niko Kranjcar insists Saturday's victory over Wigan has given Portsmouth a timely lift as they prepare for this weekend's FA Cup semi-final.

Pompey meet West Brom this weekend and Croatia midfielder Kranjcar believes his team-mates are well placed to successfully negotiate their biggest match of the campaign to date.

Jermain Defoe scored both goals against Wigan to lift his tally since arriving from Tottenham for £7.5million in January to eight, setting a club record in the process.

"It was a good performance against Wigan and we are ready for Wembley now," said Kranjcar.

"It was important for us in terms of confidence for the West Brom game. It's the most important game of the season for us.

"We know they are going to be tough opponents. Whoever gets to the semi-finals are good because they deserve to be there.

"But we are also focused because we know what an opportunity this is going to be for us.

"We have better individuals and the better team - but we have to prove that."

Defoe is unavailable to face the Coca-Cola Championship outfit - he is cup-tied - and Kranjcar admits the England striker will be a loss.

"It's always great to have a real goalscorer in the team and there is no doubt Jermain is that," Kranjcar told The News.

"He is capable of getting a goal and can turn things even when we are not on top. He put in a great performance against Wigan."

Hermann Hreidarsson, John Utaka and Kranjcar picked up knocks against Wigan, while Lassana Diarra, Lucien Aubey and Kanu missed out through injury.

But other than Defoe's absence, boss Harry Redknapp expects to be at full-strength against West Brom with Papa Bouba Diop back from suspension.

"You don't want injuries but it's not too bad. There were one or two nasty little knocks but they should hopefully be okay," said Redknapp.

"They'll all be back. We'll be okay. We'll be at full strength apart from Jermain Defoe."

Meanwhile, Richard Duffy - currently on loan at Coventry - wants to leave Fratton Park after making just two appearance since his arrival in 2004.

And the Wales midfielder outlined his intention while directing an icy blast at Redknapp.

"I can't afford another season like this one. I want to be out of Portsmouth as quickly as possible," he said.

"I figured out a couple of years ago that it wasn't going to happen for me. Harry Redknapp didn't even bother to speak to me.

"I used to go into training every morning and get ignored. I wasn't the only one - there were a few of us in that position.

"He had his players who he was going to play and that was the end of it. If you weren't one of them, you didn't count."

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