Barton was sent off in the previous game - a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool - and will have to behave himself at Fratton Park as he is just one booking away from an automatic two-match ban for picking up 10 yellow cards this season.
Barton is likely to come straight back into the team and, if so, Stuart Pearce will have to choose between Kiki Musampa and Claudio Reyna to play againt him in centre-midfield.
Youngster Micah Richards is hoping to keep his place ahead of Danny Mills at right-back but Georgios Samaras - our two-goal hero last week - will continue up front as Andy Cole remains sidelined with a knee injury.