Rickie Lambert has served a fierce warning to defences that he is full of confidence going into Saturday's FA Cup game.
The striker, who has notched 24 goals already this season, saw his self-belief rise up another notch in midweek following Saints' success in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, and is now champing at the bit to play against Portsmouth.
"It's a massive game," he stated in the build up to the first south coast derby in five years. "It's a massive one for the fans and for everyone involved and we can't wait for it now.
"We've been focused on the games that we've been playing recently. We had a massive game on Tuesday where the atmosphere was brilliant, one of the best I've ever witnessed, but all eyes are on Saturday now and the buzz around the place has been building and building.
"It will be hostile, intense, and obviously there will be some hatred between the fans but as players it should drive you on.
"It's not stopped being told by the fans how important it is and what it means to them so I've listened to a lot of stories this week."
A goal against MK Dons came at just the right time for the Liverpool born front man who was later praised by manager Alan Pardew as being 'one of the best forwards he has ever worked with.'
"It's a massive confidence boost for the manager to say that I'm one of the best strikers he's worked with because he's managed in the Premiership. Some of the players he's had are quality, so for him to say that means a lot to me and I'll be trying my very best for him again on Saturday.
"Personally it's going very well this season although it has been frustrating not to have as many chances in the last few games, but fortunately we had a decent game on Tuesday and I managed to score so I'm full of confidence."
Lambert scored the winner in a Bristol derby three years ago, but is not concerned if this weekend's opponents choose to focus their energy on keeping him quiet.
"Hopefully I am a marked man and that will mean that other players will get the time to play their stuff, but I don't think I will be. I think they'll play their game and we'll try and restrict what they do, but if we play the way that we did in the first half on Tuesday then I'm sure we'll be confident.
"I would say Pompey are the favourites though because they've got better players. I don't know them too well but the squad that they've got is Premiership class.
In Bristol Rovers - Bristol City matches the fans hated each other as well and it was an incredible game to play in so I can't imagine what this one is going to be like."
