STOKE City captain Andy Griffin says Sunday's game at Portsmouth brings together two of the best sets of supporters in the Premier League.

Griffin, who was a Pompey player from 2004 to 2007, will lead Stoke out in their first game at Fratton Park for six years.

The Britannia Stadium, capacity 28,000, and Fratton Park, capacity 20,000, are two of the smallest arenas in the Premier. However, 29-year-old Griffin says few can match the backing the Pompey and City supporters give their teams.

He is relishing the chance to return to a club he served for 43 Premier League games after joining on a free from Newcastle United.

He said: "If you judge a club on its fan base, then you have to say Portsmouth is a big club.

"Fratton Park is always an intimidating venue. Other teams don't like to go there because it's not one of these hi-tech, modern stadiums.

"It is an old-fashioned ground and is traditional, which has helped Portsmouth in the past.

"Their fans like to be heard, like the Newcastle fans and the Stoke fans.

"I've been fortunate that, wherever I have played, I have always played in front of good fans.

"Wherever we have gone this season our supporters have been tremendous. They are enjoying the roller-coaster ride which is the Premier League and going to the great stadiums and grounds."

A trip to Pompey does not have the glamour of City's last away tie, at Anfield. However, Stoke don't expect an easy ride against Harry Redknapp's FA Cup holders, particularly on their own turf.

Pompey shipped 10 goals in a week with hammerings against Manchester City and Chelsea, but returned ominously to form by beating Spurs 2-0 at Fratton Park last Sunday.

Their vociferous supporters will expect their side to turn over a Stoke team who have collected just four points from their opening six league games.

However, Griffin says morale remains high because of the way City have tackled a tough opening set of fixtures.

He said: "Going to Portsmouth will be a tough game for us. There's no doubt about that. But we believe in the way we are playing.

"Yes, we got beaten at home to Chelsea last week, but that's Chelsea. They finished two points behind Manchester United for the title last year and were runners-up in the Champions League when they could have won it.

"I thought we held our own against them. There's no doubt they are the better team with more talent, but we fought and scrapped, so I think there are a lot of positives and confidence to be taken out of that game.

"It's not often you can say that when you are beaten."

While Stoke fans couldn't have asked for much more from their side against Chelsea, their day was ruined when West Brom picked up an unexpected win at Middlesbrough and Hull snatched an incredible victory at Arsenal.

Six games is very early to make many conclusions about the final table, but if City are to survive, the chances are they will have to finish above both the sides who were promoted with them.

Griffin said: "You can't ignore the fact Hull have gone to the Emirates, come from a goal behind, and won.

"I watched the game on Match of the Day and Arsenal could have won 5-2.

"But, then again, when we went to Liverpool and got a point, we also had a bit of luck.

"Whichever team you are, even Manchester United, if you go to the Emirates, you need some luck.

"Hull certainly had that, but they also had a lot of resilience, determination, desire and belief to get that result.

"It is a little bit of a sickener, I would be lying if I said it wasn't. But it is about Stoke City Football Club. We have to make sure that we do well and pick up points at home and on the road."

Survival is the realistic limit of Stoke's ambitions for this season, but that doesn't mean they should resign themselves to one relegation battle after another.

Griffin says Portsmouth, now in their sixth consecutive Premier season, are a fine example of what can be achieved if a club can stay in the top flight long enough to build.

He said: "I would use Portsmouth as an example for this club to follow.

"It's true that, in recent years, Portsmouth have had an extremely wealthy chairman who has put a hell of a lot of money into the club.

"They have bought players for £6m, £8m and £11m. The Portsmouth of three years ago would never have done that.

"They are paying astronomical wages now, which, if you are challenging for the UEFA Cup, or a top-10 finish, will be the case.

"But now at Stoke the manager has spent £20m and recruited good players who have made the team and the squad better.

"Stoke City has more or less got two football teams now, that has never been the case before.

"No one would have thought possible what this club has achieved in the last two years. That's thanks to Peter Coates and Tony Pulis.

"It's very simple. If you stay in the Premier League, you get more money and that enables you to go out and buy another player who will improve you.

"People think of teams who come up as going straight back down, but if you look at Portsmouth, West Ham, Wigan or Bolton, you can see that's not always the case."

Pompey and Griffin flirted with relegation in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, but clawed their way out of trouble.

In 2005-2006 that was thanks to the return of Harry Redknapp, who turned around a club which had struggled under Velimir Zakjec and Alain Perrin.

Redknapp brought Griffin to the club in his first spell and, although he eventually made the defender surplus to requirements in his second, Griffin has nothing but respect for the manager.

He said: "He is a very good man-manager. He listens to his players, he respects his players, and the players respect him.

"If you need a favour, he is willing to help. So long as you work hard you will get your rewards with him.

"He is a decent fella and I got on with him well. Some players moan and groan about the manager when they are not getting picked, but that is part and parcel of football."

Griffin looks a certainty to start on Sunday, but fellow ex-Pompey team-mate Ricardo Fuller must shake off a sickness bug if he is to make the starting line-up.

The striker will be keen to prove a point after a largely frustrating season at Fratton Park when he scored once in 13 Premier League starts and 18 substitute appearances.

That was the Jamiacan's only full season in the Premier League, but Fuller has already netted twice for Stoke and is capable of showing he belongs in the top flight.

Griffin added: "The one thing Ricardo is not short of is ability. He has that in bucket loads.

"We are aware of that as team-mates, we see it every day. The fans are certainly aware of it as well. He always gets a cheer when he comes on because he is a player who can produce a goal out of nothing.

"It was difficult at Portsmouth because there were other centre-forwards (Yakubu, Lomano Lua Lua) who were proven in the Premier League.

"Sometimes you need a little bit of a break, someone to show a bit of confidence in you, and to play regular football.

"He has done extremely well for Stoke City and has done the business for us so far in the Premier."

Griffin's own impressive form is also answering those who questioned whether he could still cut it at this level.

The 29-year old has made 140 top-flight appearances and is using every minute of that experience to help guide City through.

He said: "You have to believe in yourself. I feel fit, I am seeing every game as a challenge and I am happy with how things are going.

"But it is down to hard work and we have only played six games of 38, so there is a long way to go.

"I can always do better, so I can't rest on my laurels. Whether that is being harsh on myself or not, it is still true."