Bristol Rovers vs Portsmouth preview - Bristol Rovers skipper Mark McChrystal set to make season bow against Portsmouth

Bristol Rovers captain Mark McChrystal hopes to make his first appearance of the season in the Sky Bet League Two home game with Portsmouth.

McChrystal suffered a knee injury during pre-season training in July and his recovery has taken longer than expected, but he was on the bench for the Pirates' 1-1 draw at Plymouth last weekend.

The defender stepped up his fitness in midweek when he played an hour of Rovers reserves' 2-1 victory over Exeter's second string.

Full-back Daniel Leadbitter also played in that reserve-team fixture and hopes to feature for the first time since pulling a hamstring on August 22.

Goalkeeper Aaron McCarey will go straight into Portmouth's squad after arriving on a one-month emergency loan deal.

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international will vie for selection with Michael Poke, recently recalled from a loan move to Eastleigh, following injuries to goalkeepers Paul Jones and Brian Murphy.

Manager Paul Cook is also without Michael Doyle, who was sent off in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Oxford.

Connor Chaplin, who has suffered a shin injury but is waiting to learn more about his condition, may also miss out.