Mark Ritson reports
The Addicks travel down to Devon to face Exeter City on Saturday (3pm) hoping to move on to 63 points in League One and further ahead at the top of the summit.
Two back-to-back victories over both Sheffield sides, Wednesday and United, have given Chris Powell's men a cushion at the top of the table, but even with a game in hand still to be played, the match against the Grecians is just as important.
The Reds not only boast the best away record in The Football League and the top flight, but also the second best defence out of all 92 clubs, behind mega-bucks Manchester City - a remarkable achievement.
The Addicks could have been in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday if they had beaten Fulham in the previous round, but with both Steel City sides competing in the world's most famous cup competition, victory in Exeter for Powell's men could extend their lead at the top of League One to 10 points and make very happy reading for Charlton supporters.
Huddersfield Town face Tranmere Rovers, but even if the Terriers are victorious, Charlton could make that 10-point statistic a reality just 72 hours later when Bury come to The Valley on Tuesday (7.45pm).
Despite the above, it's hard to ignore Powell's voice in the back of your head warning against any signs of complacency. After, it's almost 83 years since Charlton won away at Exeter.
What's more, the Grecians' current league position probably belies their talent, and recent results have been far from shabby. Although 18th, City are unbeaten in four games, have the fifth best home defence in the league, and have conceded just one goal in their last four matches at St James' Park.
Powell's only certain absentee from the match will be midfielder Darel Russell, who begins a three-match suspension after last Saturday's red card against Sheffield United.
Since Christmas, Exeter have picked up six points from six games, with just one victory over Chesterfield and draws against Yeovil Town, Hartlepool United and Oldham Athletic. However, they have conceded just one league goal in 2012.
Wycombe Wanderers inflicted a 3-1 defeat on them on Boxing Day, with Fulham loan striker Marcello Trotta helping himself to a hat-trick despite Daniel Coles equalising midway through the first half.
Coles saw red in their next game on New Year's Eve away at Colchester United as the U's secured a 2-0 win thanks to Antony Wordsworth and Andy Bond either side of the halfway point.
City began the new year with a 1-1 draw at home to Yeovil, and had to thank Richard Logan after 75 minutes for cancelling out Andy Williams' opener.
It was Logan again who found the net, this time opening the scoring, away at Chesterfield after 78 minutes, before Liam Sercombe wrapped up all three points with just a few minutes remaining.
Two goalless draws have followed against Hartlepool and Oldham, so while the defence is tight, the attack might be a little goal shy.
Manager Paul Tisdale was obviously delighted with another clean sheet against the Latics last weekend, but is keen not to get too carried away with their recent form.
"It's nice to have another game unbeaten and I'm pleased to say we've kept three clean sheets in a row," said the boss. "We haven't scored many goals recently, but I can see that changing with the chances we are creating.
"Three clean sheets in a row is not a bad place to start for any team when you are trying to put some form together, but we have to make sure we don't become too focused on that."
On the visit of table-toppers Charlton, the manager believes the job Powell has done in such a short space of time has been nothing short of remarkable, and knows his side will need to be on their guard come kick-off.
"It's going to be tough to play against a side that seems to keep winning," admitted the Exeter boss. "They are a very consistent side and recruited very well during the summer. It's one thing being a big club and having the resources to do that, but it's another signing the correct players that fit with each other, and they have done that very well.
"There are a few things we will need to be wary of, but they will need to be wary of us as well. We shouldn't worry about them too much."
Midfielder Sercombe will face a late fitness test after picking up an ankle injury against Hartlepool, but Tisdale will have a fully-fit squad from which to choose, including a number of strikers vying for a starting spot in the form of Logan, Daniel Nardiello and John O'Flynn.
As previously mentioned, midfielder Russell sits out the first of his three-game ban, so that may allow Dale Stephens to make a return to Powell's matchday squad.
The 22-year-old played 65 minutes against Margate in the quarter-finals of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday night to fine-tune his comeback from ankle surgery, but Bradley Pritchard may continue to get the nod in the engine-room after impressing in recent weeks.
There could be a reunion at St James' Park in the shape of goalkeeper Ben Hamer and defender Matt Taylor, with both having had previous spells with the Grecians, most notably the latter, who captained the side for four seasons before moving to The Valley last summer.
Hamer kept seven clean sheets in 18 league appearances on loan from Reading last season from January to May, and is expected to continue in goal having yet to concede in 2012 so far.
Taylor played over 160 games in all competitions for City, scoring 20 goals in total, and the current vice-captain will be looking to find the net against his former employers with a place in the starting XI.
Chris Solly and Rhoys Wiggins are expected to retain their places in both full-back positions, while Michael Morrison has performed remarkably alongside Taylor this season. If a change is needed, Powell can call upon the likes of Leon Cort, Gary Doherty, Cedric Evina and the versatile Andy Hughes at the back.
Danny Green and Scott Wagstaff look set to battle it out for a place on the right flank, although the latter did not make the matchday squad against both the Owls and the Blades.
Danny Hollands should take his place in the middle, but with the returning Stephens ready to come back into the side, Powell must decided whether to play the former Oldham playmaker who was such a big influence in the team's fine start to the season or stick with Pritchard.
Captain Johnnie Jackson, fresh from his two sublime, match-winning free-kicks against both Steel City clubs, will most likely occupy the left side of midfield.
In attack, Powell has an abundance of attacking quality to choose from, including new signings Danny Haynes and Leon Clarke. But with the strike force of Bradley Wright-Phillips and Yann Kermorgant playing the majority of this season's matches so far, Powell is likely to stick with the duo again.
However, the manager also has Paul Hayes ready to come in, and the 28-year-old scored a fantastic effort in the Kent Senior Cup in midweek, while also combining well with Clarke, who bagged a couple of goals himself.
Charlton beat Exeter by two goals without reply in September at The Valley, courtesy of Wright-Phillips and Stephens.
The former Plymouth Argyle man was played in by Hayes in the first period to poke home the opener, before he cut the ball back on the right for Stephens to drill a low shot into the back of the net.
The Addicks were defeated 3-1 back in February last year by the Grecians at The Valley in front of almost 25,000 fans following the club's first special £5 ticket offer.
All the goals from the visitors came inside a 20-minute period after the hour mark thanks to Sercombe, O'Flynn and a Ryan Harley penalty, while Wright-Phillips grabbed a consolation in the closing stages.
Charlton suffered late penalty pain at St James' Park in September 2010 as they went down to a 1-0 defeat.
A controversial spot-kick from Harley two minutes into stoppage-time earned the Grecians their first League One win of the season and left the Addicks empty handed.
Harley kept his cool from 12 yards after Miguel Llera was adjudged to have brought down substitute Jamie Cureton in the box.
Charlton's hopes of an automatic promotion spot hung by a thread after the 1-1 draw at Exeter the previous April - but the Addicks did guarantee their place in the play-offs.
A header on the hour from George Friend put Exeter in front, but Addicks substitute Kyle Reid responded 12 minutes later. The winger's shot was cleared from close to the line by substitute Scott Golbourne, but the assistant referee awarded the goal.
Nicky Forster had a header cleared off the line - quite possibly by the arm of Harley, who also saw his effort tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
Deon Burton and Llera were also denied by the woodwork either side of the break as Charlton had to settle for a point.
Izale McLeod celebrated his first Valley goal as Charlton sealed a 2-1 victory against Exeter in September 2009. The striker, a 70th-minute replacement for Burton, slammed home a loose ball three minutes from time after Grecians keeper Oscar Jansson had fumbled a cross.
It was only the second goal in McLeod's three-season Charlton career, and doubled a lead provided by Nicky Bailey four minutes before half-time.
The then-skipper reacted well to back-flick a low cross from Lloyd Sam past the Swedish keeper, and, although substitute Bertie Cozic headed home in stoppage time, the hosts held firm.
The Grecians had not visited SE7 in the league since February 1981, but did come to The Valley in an FA Cup third-round tie in January 2003, when two overhead kicks from Jonatan Johansson and a Jason Euell strike gave the Addicks a 3-1 win.
In the last league match at the home of Charlton, Phil Walker's goal proved decisive in a 1-0 triumph. That fixture proved to be important in the Addicks annuals as Charlton set a new club record 28th victory in all competitions, and equalled a pre-war record of 16 league matches in a season without conceding a goal.
In overall meetings between the two sides, Charlton have won 13 times to Exeter's 11, with six draws.
Tickets are no longer on sale from The Valley. 762 places had been sold by midday on Thursday.
Tickets (except family tickets) will be available on the day, priced £21 adults, £15 over 60s and £7 U18s for the seats and £17 adults, £12 over 60s and students (with NUS card), and £5 U18s for the terracing. Family (one adult and one U14) tickets are £23 for the seats and £20 for the terrace.
The club has around 1,300 tickets at St James' Park, of which 260 seats are reserved for ambulant disabled, young families and over 60s. The remainder are terrace places, and only a handful of seats remained on Tuesday morning.
Ambulant disabled places are the standard prices (including a free helper), but the three wheelchair places have sold out.
The away ticket office is situated just up from the away turnstiles in St James Road. It is attached to the main St James Centre building and just set back from the road behind the read and white railings.
Valley Away travel to St Jsmes' Park is priced £25.
A match report will be available after the final whistle on www.cafc.co.uk, while the @CAFCofficial Twitter service will be providing updates during the game.
Live commentary from the clash will also be available on CAFC Player, subscriptions for which cost just £35.99 per year or £4.29 per month - that's less than 10p per day. And there is currently a special offer available in January - click here for details.
Interactive text commentary with Cover It Live will not be available via CAFC Player, as usual for away matches.
Opposition website: http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/page/Welcome
