CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe is relishing the prospect of a face-off with south coast rivals Portsmouth in the first round of the League Cup.

Newly-promoted Cherries were paired against the League Two outfit in this morning’s draw and will entertain Pompey during week commencing August 5, with the tie likely to take place at Dean Court on Tuesday, August 6.

The draw was seeded, based on last season’s final league positions, and then split regionally – with Cherries one of 17 seeded clubs in the southern section.

Pompey, relegated after finishing bottom of League One, knocked Cherries out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last season following a penalty shootout at Fratton Park.

Howe spent an injury-ravaged two-year spell with Pompey following a £400,000 move from Dean Court in 2002. A serious knee injury, which would later force him to retire, restricted him to just two appearances for the club.

Reacting to the draw, Howe told the Daily Echo: “It is a great draw for both clubs and we are really looking forward to the tie. Although I was injured for most of my time there, it is a fantastic club with brilliant supporters.

“Portsmouth have had a tough time of it for the past few years and have shown great togetherness and community spirit to come through.

“Being a derby, the game will have added spice and it has all the makings of being an excellent spectacle between two teams which like to play good football.”

Cherries have met Pompey once in the competition when two goals form Ted MacDougall earned them a 2-1 win at Dean Court in the first round in 1971.

Beaten on penalties at League Two Oxford United in the first round last season, Cherries have not had the best of fortunes in the competition since reaching the third round in 2004-05.

Howe helped Cherries claim a memorable scalp when they eliminated Premier League Blackburn Rovers 7-6 on penalties following a 3-3 draw at Ewood Park. They were beaten in the next round by Cardiff.

Since then, Cherries have progressed to the second round only twice in eight attempts – going out at the hands of Wigan in 2005-06 after beating Torquay and West Brom two years ago after thumping Dagenham & Redbridge 5-0.

During Howe’s first spell as manager, Cherries fell at the first hurdle on two occasions, losing 4-0 at Millwall in August 2009 and 2-0 at Southampton the following season.

However, Howe enjoyed better fortunes in the competition during his 18-month stint as manager of Burnley, guiding the Clarets to the last 16 in his first full season at Turf Moor in 2011-12.

Howe’s men, fresh from winning promotion after finishing as League One runners-up last season, will report back for the start of pre-season training on Saturday.

The Football League fixture list for the new campaign is due to be announced on Wednesday.