Millwall v Charlton
It's the big one on Saturday (3pm) as Charlton head into the Lions' den for their first competitive fixture at the home of South-East London rivals Millwall since December 1995.
Plenty has happened since then and now both clubs find themselves in League One, although with a good chance of escaping it at the end of the season.
With a sell-out crowd, it promises to be a hotly-contested affair and the Addicks will need to have their wits about them to deal with the intimidating and highly-charged atmosphere emanating from the terraces.
Phil Parkinson's side will need to play better than they did against basement boys Stockport County at The Valley last time out when, after racing into a 2-0 lead, the Addicks took their foot off the gas.
As Mark Kinsella stated afterwards, the result was more important than the performance and Addicks fans would surely take a scrappy 1-0 win at The New Den as they bid to close the gap on the top two.
But, with Millwall enjoying some good form of late, particularly at home, Charlton will know they'll need to up their game in South Bermondsey if they are to leave with a favourable result.
This season at home, Millwall have beaten Norwich City, Leeds United, Colchester United, Huddersfield Town and Milton Keynes Dons. They also have the best home defensive record of any of the promotion-chasing sides.
The opposition
Steve Morison scored twice as Millwall made it one defeat in their last 12 league games with a 3-1 win at Carlisle United on Tuesday night.
Morison should have had at least a couple more in the second half as the Cumbrians' lack of pace at the back was exploited by the dangerous Lions attack.
Carlisle started brightly enough, but Millwall soon hit their stride and went ahead in the 13th minute when Morison seized on Shaun Batt's headed flick to cleverly lob goalkeeper Adam Collin from the edge of the area.
The hitman found the target again with 12 minutes remaining when Collin came to collect Danny Schofield's cross from the left but missed the ball entirely, leaving Morison with a simple finish at the far post.
Danny Livesey pulled one back when he headed home Matty Robson's corner, but with seconds left Schofield made it 3-1 to the Lions, tapping in Morison's cross from close range.
Afterwards, Millwall assistant boss Joe Gallen reckoned was full of praise for Morison's clever lobbed opener, musing: "It was a terrific goal. Steve supplied an intelligent and instinctive finish and it set us on our way. We have players who can break and we could have had a few more goals if we had picked the right options."
Lions striker Neil Harris is hoping to shake off an ankle injury to pit his wits against Charlton for the first time in his career, stating: "I'm looking forward to it massively. Charlton was one of the first games I looked for when the fixture list came out because it is a big derby against a team I've never played against before in a competitive match.
"Missing the game at The Valley through injury before Christmas was a big blow for me, so this one will mean even more. The fact we are both fighting now for a top six finish just adds a bit more spice to it."
He continued: "I was at the 4-4 draw and it was a thoroughly entertaining game. Being biased from a Millwall point of view, I thought the referee slightly spoiled it but it was still highly competitive and a fantastic atmosphere and there is no reason why it won't be any different at The Den."
Harris believes the Lions will benefit from the backing of a passionate crowd and hopes to send Millwall's fans home with plenty to smile about.
He said: "Some of the lads here will not have played in front of a full house at Millwall. With the exception of a couple of Charlton players like Christian Dailly, few of them would have experienced an atmosphere at Millwall quite like they're going to get.
"Obviously it is an intimidating place to play when it is full because Millwall fans save their best for the big games like West Ham United, Leeds, Crystal Palace and Charlton."
He added: "It's a local derby and there are bragging rights up for grabs. It's a chance for us as a group of players to give our fans something to cheer about by getting one over on their rivals.
"There are probably loads of Millwall and Charlton fans who work together and spend a lot of time socialising with each other as well, so it is an opportunity for us to make their day."
Gary Alexander is the only definite absentee for Millwall. Alexander has begun light training following his heel operation and hopes to return to action before the end of the season.
FA Cup runners-up in 2004, Millwall were beaten by Scunthorpe United in last term's League One play-off final at Wembley.
Charlton team news/past meetings
The absence of Johnnie Jackson is likely to be Parkinson's biggest headache ahead of the game. The left-back, on loan from Notts County, has been ruled out for six weeks after limping out of the win over Stockport with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Chris Solly in the first half.
Jackson, whose initial loan spell expired after the Millwall game, could see his place taken by the naturally more right-sided Solly, although Miguel Llera and Jose Semedo are other options to fill in there. Kelly Youga has returned to training after his knee injury but the game is likely to come too soon for the Frenchman.
Kyel Reid returned to the starting line-up for the clash against Stockport on Saturday and turned in a fine display. The winger, who proved the match-winner from the bench at Southend United, was on the left-hand side as Semedo, hampered by a virus in the build-up to the game, dropped to the bench.
Reid's inclusion meant skipper Nicky Bailey moved back inside to partner Therry Racon in central midfield, while ex-Hatter David Mooney was up front alongside Akpo Sodje.
Rob Elliot continued between the posts for the hosts and the backline was unchanged with Frazer Richardson and Jackson flanking Christian Dailly and Llera. Reid and Lloyd Sam were out wide, with Bailey and Racon in the middle.
Darren Randolph was joined in reserve by Solly, Semedo, Scott Wagstaff, Leon McKenzie and Jonjo Shelvey, who had shrugged off an ankle niggle. Top-scorer Deon Burton was also back on the bench after missing the trip to Southend with a groin injury.
Parkinson could recall the more defensive-minded Semedo for the fixture with the Lions at the expense of Racon, while Matt Spring is also available for selection after being overlooked in recent weeks.
Wagstaff will be pushing for a starting spot on one of the wings, while Sam Sodje will be keen to return at centre-back for either Dailly or Llera. Burton may replace one of Mooney or Akpo Sodje and Parkinson also has the option to bring back Shelvey to play just behind a lone frontman. Grant Basey is a definite absentee with ruptured ankle ligaments.
It was a South-East London derby 13-and-a-half years in the making in December, and Charlton and Millwall served up a pre-Christmas classic at The Valley.
But it was the 10-man Lions who were celebrating at the final whistle after substitute Schofield struck in stoppage time to seal an astonishing 4-4 draw.
After Morison's double had put the Lions ahead, two penalties from Burton, the latter following a red card for Nadjim Abdou, hauled the hosts level at the break.
Bailey volleyed Charlton back in front seconds after half-time, but David Martin equalised, only for an own goal from Morison five minutes from time to give Charlton the lead again.
That looked to have earned Charlton the bragging rights, but Schofield squeezed in a low shot in added time at the end to earn Millwall a share of the spoils.
The previous meeting between the two teams was a pre-season friendly at The New Den in July 2006, Iain Dowie's Addicks earning a 4-1 win through goals from Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Darren Ambrose, Talal El Karkouri and James Walker.
Before then came in a First Division encounter in March 1996 as strikes from Lee Bowyer and Carl Leaburn gave Charlton a 2-0 win at The Valley. Earlier that season, Kim Grant's brace gave Charlton all three points in an identical scoreline in what was a famous victory amid the snow.
The first ever encounter saw Charlton earn a 1-0 win at The Den in front of 25,000 fans thanks to a Sid Castle effort on New Year's Eve 1921.
Just over a fortnight later, a Harold Halse strike and a Dan Bailey penalty secured Charlton a 2-1 triumph at The Valley.
Tickets and travel
All tickets have now sold out for the game. The Addicks sold their initial allocation of 2,500 places on Wednesday afternoon, and an extra 500 tickets were snapped up on Saturday.
Details of the Valley Away coach service, priced £10, can be found here.
Fans can read about discounted group rail travel, and other information about getting to The New Den, here.
CAFC Player, which is currently offering a free 14-day trial, allows fans to follow the action via a live matchday centre, with text updates, all the latest statistical information and a league table that refreshes as the goals go in across the country.
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