Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has warned he will need to sign ten extra players for next season if his team beat Arsenal tomorrow and qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Redknapp is adamant the additional workload of a European campaign would almost certainly have dire consequences for his current squad, who could be missing five first-team regulars for their last Barclays Premiership fixture of the season.

Yet he would be delighted to see his side score a notable victory - and see other UEFA Cup contenders Bolton and Reading drop points - to put themselves in line for another huge challenge after a season that has already brought major improvement.

He said: ''That's what we are all here for. That is what it is all about. You need new challenges, you need to keep building and improving your squad.

''It will be great for us to get into Europe but we can't take it on with what we've got.

''We are going to need about ten extra players because if you are going to be successful in the UEFA Cup you are going to play at least ten extra games.

''It starts like a cup competition, goes into a league format and then back to a cup again.

''Ask Newcastle and Tottenham how difficult that was to handle this season. Spurs are probably one of the few squads who were capable of handling it.

''They have a lot of players and a lot of quality. They should be nailed on to finish fifth in the Premiership and I expect that is where they will finish.''

Pompey need a minimum seventh-place finish and must overtake Bolton and Reading, who have, respectively, two points and one point more going into their final games.