Portsmouth boss Paul Hart is determined to clear the storm clouds over Fratton Park by leading his side another step closer to the Carling Cup final.

The Premier League's bottom side face Stoke in the fourth round on Tuesday night.

Having taken just four points from 10 league games, Pompey are four adrift of safety but Hart has no intention of taking the Carling Cup lightly as he bids to turn the team's fortunes around.

He said: "I think that it is a serious competition that deserves the respect we're trying to show it.

"We have two opportunities; to win another football match and take another step towards Wembley.

"I think it's a worthwhile competition and we've approached it that way from the start. We ought to continue in that vein."

Asked whether he would prefer Premier League survival or a cup triumph, Hart added: "I think I would have to take the Premier League, but it's an opportunity, as is the FA Cup."

Portsmouth's hopes of beating Stoke will be hampered by the absence of cup-tied quartet Kevin-Prince Boateng, Jamie O'Hara, Mike Williamson and Tommy Smith.

But Hart is ready to use the occasion to give some of his fringe stars the chance to stake a first-team claim.

He said: "It gives an opportunity for a few other players to shine. The lads have done that in the past two Carling Cup games against Hereford and Carlisle, they've certainly put on performances.

"Hassan Yebda played one of his first games at Carlisle and it gave him a bit of a platform to move forward. It's a great opportunity for some players."

One man who will be keen to impress is on-loan forward Frederic Piquionne.

Despite starting several games following his move from Lyon, Piquionne has been restricted to substitute appearances in recent weeks.

Hart opted to bring in Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane but, like Piquionne, his only goal for the club has come in the Carling Cup.

However, Hart believes the pair are not the only men to blame for the club being the Premier League's lowest scorers with just five goals in 10 games.

He said: "We've pulled Piquionne away from the first team to try and help him with a few things. He has done reasonably well in the reserves so he could have an opportunity to kick on a bit.

"But I don't want to single out strikers as the only means of scoring goals. We've all got parts to play and it's a team effort."

While Stoke may not be the Premier League's most aesthetically pleasing side to watch, Hart knows they will provide Portsmouth with a very physical test at Fratton Park.

He said: "They've been together two or three years now, they know each other and they play in a certain way that suits the players. They have done really well.

"Football comes in many styles and I'm certainly not a football snob.

"Stoke have proved they're very difficult to play against to many teams in the upper echelons. I'm not thinking it's going to be much different when we face them."