Portsmouth manager Graham Rix knows he faces a tough job to lift the team for tomorrow's opener at Molineux.

Training has been carried out under a cloud all week following the death of Aaron Flahavan.

Rix said: "It's been a difficult time and it falls on my shoulders to lift the guys and get them ready for the Wolves match.

"We need to go to Molineux and give it our best shot, which is what we are going to do.

"Monday and Tuesday of this week were the most difficult but we pushed ourselves through with some running to try to put the tragic circumstances aside for a while, which is not easy.

"But we all move on. The players have stepped up the training and look very sharp.

"So by tomorrow afternoon they will have clear heads and give people a chance to see what they can do."

Rix said that he feels confident the players can put behind them the tragedy and give a good account tomorrow against Dave Jones' side.

Pompey have increased the size of their squad to over 40 players, but begin their season with injury worries - Shaun Derry, Linvoy Primus and Carl Tiler are all sidelined.

They are hoping to boost their numbers with the signing of Croatian midfielder Robert Prosinecki who has been refused a work permit.

Rix is keen to have him in the reckoning. "Robert is a world star, and bringing him here would be a real boost for the club and the public.

"We have an appeal at the Home Office next week that we hope to win. By bringing in such a talented player can only help the young players like Gary O'Neil and Lewis Buxton.

"And that can only help English football in the long run."