"I don't want someone coming in for a senior player, and thinking that no matter what they do, they'll be out when the big-time player comes back.
"I don't like that situation. I like to have the motivation, the incentive.
"If we win, the players know they'll be shown faith, even if the manager thinks we might be better off with someone else.
"I want them to know that if they do their stuff and we get three points, they've got a 90-odd percent chance of starting the next game."
Reading could leap into mid table with a win on the South Coast. It won't be easy though. Pompey have not lost at home this season and that includes draws with Man Utd and Liverpool.