EMERTON HANDS IT TO KEEPERS

Brad Friedel - one of the league's best keepers.

Two of the Premier League's outstanding goalkeepers go head to head on Sunday when European hopefuls Portsmouth and Blackburn clash at Fratton Park.

Blackburn's Brad Friedel and England's number one David James will be at opposite ends of the pitch and could hold the destiny of the points in the palms of their gloves, according to Rovers defender Brett Emerton.

"I rank both of the keepers up there as among the best in the league and they are going to be a huge part of the game on Sunday. They could determine which team comes out on top," Emerton said.

James, 37, has reclaimed his international place thanks to another outstanding season for FA Cup finalists Portsmouth.

But Emerton would not swap the England man for Friedel, who at just 12 months younger than James is still at the top of his game after eight years at Ewood Park.

"It's great to have Brad behind you," added Emerton, who moved from his right-back berth to a midfield role against Manchester United last Saturday when Friedel almost single-handedly defied the champions before being beaten late on by Carlos Tevez.

"As I've said before I rate him as one of, if not the best, keeper in the league at the moment and I think he has been for many years now.

"It gives the back four and the entire team huge confidence to have such a great goalkeeper behind them."

Rovers may again need Friedel at his best if they are to extend a remarkable record of just one defeat in 11 games at Portsmouth and get the victory they need to maintain their slim hopes of qualifying for the Intertoto Cup.

With Pompey chasing UEFA Cup qualification by winning the FA Cup, Rovers are clinging on to the hope that Everton retain fifth spot in the league and they can then overhaul Aston Villa and Manchester City to play in next season's Intertoto competition.

"With three games left we have to win all three I feel to have a chance of qualifying for Europe," Emerton said.

Manager Mark Hughes is of the same opinion but will not throw in the towel yet with games to come against Derby and Birmingham in the final two weeks of the season.

Hughes said: "We will keep going until it's not possible for us. We have three games left and we are still in the mix for it.

"It's going to be difficult, we understand that. But if we win all three games then it will make it more difficult for the other teams around us."

Rovers have not won for four matches but Hughes hopes a repeat of the display in holding United to a 1-1 draw combined with Portsmouth's possible distraction by the FA Cup will help them launch a big finish.

He added: "Hopefully we will get the same level of performance. We did exceptionally well against United and we know the level we can attain. I just feel that level of performance will help kick us through for these last three games.

"We need to hit it at the weekend and the games that follow because we are looking for maximum points from the games we have left. If we do that then we'll see what happens.

"Whether or not Portsmouth's focus will be more on the FA Cup, we'll have to wait and see. We hope it is, but saying that they didn't perform particularly well last time out so they will be banging the drum with places up for grabs for Wembley so you would imagine they will try and get their focus back.

"But we'll make it difficult for them and they know that. They've got a healthy respect for what we do and vice-versa."