Portsmouth will be without Mustapha Dumbuya.
The full-back misses out as he is on international duty with Sierra Leone.
But Pompey are hopeful centre-half Lubomir Michalik will be available for the clash despite being on standby for Slovakia.
Fellow defenders Josh Thompson (ankle) and Alex Grant (knee) are still injured along with midfielder Darel Russell (hamstring), but Luke Rodgers is back in contention after a spell on the sidelines.
The striker had been out for three weeks with a thigh injury but returned as a late substitute as Pompey crashed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 3-1 at home to Wycombe on Tuesday night.
Mikkel Andersen should return in goal after Simon Eastwood got a run-out in midweek.
Byron Moore and Abdul Osman are battling for a place in the Crewe squad.
Winger Moore and midfielder Osman have been sidelined in recent weeks with ankle complaints but are fit to be considered for action by boss Steve Davis at Fratton Park.
Veteran goalkeeper Steve Phillips is back in training following knee surgery over the summer but is not yet ready for match action.
Ajay Leitch-Smith shook of the affects of a dead-leg to start Tuesday night's Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Shrewsbury and is ready to feature once more.
Fellow forward Michael West (Achilles) remains on the sidelines alongside teenage winger Ryan Colclough (broken jaw) as Alex chase consecutive league wins for the first time this season.
