If you'd have asked me this a week ago...my opinion would have been slightly different - with Senegalese international Aliou Cisse being wanted at the last minute by Harry Redknapp, just before Cisse was set for a season long loan to premiership newcomers Crystal Palace.
This transaction has now added a bit more spice and flair to the fast approaching game this Saturday. Redknapp hasn't really added any extra quality to his already fairly strong unit of players apart from Cisse whereas Bruce has invested in top quality, internationals such as Muzzy Izzet and Jesper Gronkjaer.
This game will be rather interesting with lots of players making their debuts and I'm sure both teams will be wanting to get their 2004/05 campaign underway with a victorious win.
Blues being away, and the Pompey crowd excited and raring to go will be a great disadvantage for Bruce's men but if the away crowd last season was anything to go by then the BlueBoys may well feel like they're at home.
It will be a hard battle for both teams; and a lot of team bonding will be occurring and if the weather continues to be in the 25 to 30 degrees range I'm sure the players will find it relatively difficult to play in and therefore team performance will be affected.
For the Blues Premiership opener I'm going to go with a score draw (1-1).
Leigh Whitehouse is a die hard, 17 year-old Birmingham City season ticket holder who is currently studying English & Media (A-Level) at college.
He will be giving us his predictions immediately before each game Blues play this season.
Blues v Pompey Prediction
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