BBC Sport journalist shares Portsmouth joke after official play-off news

Portsmouth have their eyes on the prize towards the end of this season as March kicks off this weekend.

By prize, that is of course comfortable safety and a more relaxed finish to the campaign, with a succession plan into next season in terms of infrastructure, recruitment and staff.

Pompey have won their last three games and travel to basement side Luton Town on Saturday (1 March) in search of a further grip on Championship status against a team fighting to avoid successive relegations.

Portsmouth play-off bid baited on social media

Portsmouth fans can take a breath following the recent run of good form, even managing a second away win of the season on their last travels against Oxford United (15 February).

The Blues now sit on 39 points, nine above the drop zone and remarkably just 12 outside the play-off places.

While it would take something beyond the realms of virtual possibility to even challenge for the top six this season - not to mention there remain 10 other clubs above Pompey who still sit outside the play-offs - BBC Radio Solent's Andy Moon was able to wryly point out when the semi-finals and final would be.

The Blues' last Fratton Park fixture of the season against Hull City has been moved to a lunchtime kick-off for Sky Sports coverage, while the EFL have released the dates of the play-off rounds in May.

Moon quickly took to X (27 February) to remind any "super-optimistic" Portsmouth fans.

"Pompey's final home game of the season against Hull on 3 May will kick off at 12:30pm," he said.

"Play-off dates [are] also out for the super-optimistic supporters."

Pompey squad can enjoy rest period in March

With the amount of injuries Portsmouth have had to deal with all season long, it comes with extra credit how well Mousinho's squad have performed.

One of the beauties of the Championship for many players - less so the supporters - is that international breaks scatter across the season.

While three come in successive months prior to the turn of the year, the final of the quartet arrives in March, and subsequently means Pompey will be without a game between 15 March and 29 March.

It can give players extra time to complete their recoveries, and hopefully provide Mousinho and his staff with the opportunity to rotate and remain strong to achieve a strong finish to the season.

Without raining down on any parades, it won't be the play-offs this year - but do the right things and make the right investments in the summer and next season could have more in store.