Charlton were boosted by the news that Chris Solly signed a contract that will keep him at the club until 2014 on Friday morning.

Sheffield United are League One’s most in form team of the moment, having won eight of their last nine league games. A 3-2 reverse to Carlisle at Brunton Park being the sole blemish on their recent record.

Like city neighbours Wednesday, the Blades have progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup, a distraction that both sets of fans may feel they could do without.

The Valley will have a crowd of well over 20,000 for the match, with United being backed by upwards of 2500 supporters.

The Blades have scored plenty of goals during their good run and Taylor and Morrison will relish locking horns with Ched Evans and Richard Cresswell.

Chris Powell is unlikely to tamper with the side that defeated Wednesday last week, so Bradley Pritchard is set to continue alongside Danny Hollands. Dale Stephens will again be on the bench and, dependent on how the game pans out, could have some involvement in the latter stages.

New signing, Danny Haynes, will come into contention for a spot on the bench and Powell will have to decide between him and Leon Clarke.

Charlton could look like this:

Hamer; Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins; Green, Pritchard, Hollands, Jackson; Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips.

Subs: Sullivan, Cort, Russell, Stephens, Haynes.

The referee will be Darren Deadman from Cambridge.

A tough test for the Addicks but, nevertheless, one they will be relishing. They are seven points clear of third placed Huddersfield with a game in hand and eight clear of Sheffield Wednesday.

Victory against the Blades would send Charlton seven points clear of their opponents, plus they still have a game in hand.

With games against Exeter, Bury, Rochdale and Chesterfield to follow, Chris Powell will view the match as an ideal opportunity for his side to cement their place at the top.

Powell will be confident of the team maintaining its impressive record against the division’s top sides.