Albion as big as Pompey: Dean

Ex-Pompey goalkeeper Kiely drew the battle lines for Saturday's last-four clash at Wembley by reminding his former side that the Baggies are as big as any club left in the Cup.

And the 37-year-old insisted Tony Mowbray's men will not consider themselves underdogs when they go in search of their first Cup final in 40 years.

"It will be a great day out for the fans and for our families but from our point of view we're not 'little old minnows' who find ourselves amazingly in the semi-finals," said Kiely.

"We're playing one level below the Premier League and we all feel that we are in the semi-finals on merit.

"We deserve to be where we are. We have done it by playing away from home in every round and from that point of view we feel it's only right and proper that we are in the semis.

"We are a big club in our own right and if we have our way we will be playing at the same level as Portsmouth this time next year.

"This is a semi-final between two big teams and we are not going there thinking we are the minnows."

Despite playing his first senior game for the Baggies just 14 months ago, Kiely became steeped in Baggies heritage during a spell as a trainee at The Hawthorns.

And his sights are now fixed on the prospect of joining the ranks of great Albion sides.

"When I was here as a lad I had the great fortune to work alongside legends like Tony Brown and Nobby Stiles – greats of the game," he said.

"It left me in no doubt when I came back that I was playing for a big side.

"As current players we are all very respectful of the fact that we are playing for a big club with all those traditions to live up to.

"But we are equally aware that have the opportunity here to make a bit of history for ourselves and there is a real sense of expectation around the game."