SEAN Gregan and Danny Pugh are ready to answer Leeds United's defensive SOS for tonight's Carling Cup third round tie at Portsmouth.

Central defender Paul Butler and left back Matthew Kilgallon are suspended after their dismissals in the 1-0 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.

So manager Kevin Blackwell is ready to move midfielder Gregan into central defence alongside Clarke Carlisle and switch winger Pugh to left-back.

Gregan began his career as a central defender with Darlington before being converted into central midfield at Preston.

Michael Duberry is on loan at Stoke for three months, but Leeds cannot recall him during the first month.

Pugh has experience of playing at left-back for Manchester United and will fill that role, with Scottish international Stephen Crainey still out injured.

Blackwell will check on Matthew Spring's fitness before deciding whether to give him a start in midfield, Jamie McMaster is available after his loan spell at Swindon and Julian Joachim could be back after missing the Brighton game because his wife had gone into labour.

York-born Kilgallon misses one match for collecting two yellow cards, while Butler faces a two-match ban for foul and abusive language - an offence he denies.

It is understood Butler was complaining about referee's assistant Wendy Toms, who kept flagging for innocuous offences. The Leeds captain remarked: "It's a man's game."

Blackwell is trying to rebuild his team's confidence after the defeat at Brighton which he labelled as "the worst we have played all season".

The players have stayed on the south coast in readiness for the Carling Cup tie at Fratton Park and much of the time will be spent on generating team spirit.

Said Blackwell: "It is important now that the players don't dwell on that performance.

"We want to go as far in the Carling Cup as we can and if we play to our ability we can still get a good result at Portsmouth even though the squad is paper-thin after injuries and suspensions."

Updated: 10:51 Tuesday, October 26, 2004