Karl Robinson has recruited wisely during the summer, and he still has more business to do. He has also jettisoned some of the high earners, and there could be more high profile deparures, but more of that later.
Robinson told the press he had one or two injury concerns on Thursday, but did not name the players.
In some ways, this is the worst game he could have. The Addicks done the double over Bristol Rovers last year, winning 5-1 at the Memorial Ground, and 4-1 at The Valley. Sub consciously, many will view victory as a formality.
Recent arrival, Ben Amos, is likely to be behind a back four of Chris Solly, Patrick Bauer, Jason Pearce and Jay Dasilva.
Pearce has been ruled out through injury recently, but is expected to be fit for this game. If he fails to make it, Ezri Konsa will deputise.
Robinson likes to utilise a 4-2-3-1 formation, and Ahmed Kashi and Jake Forster-Caskey are likely to be the deepest lying of the midfield quintet.
Kashi will have to be handled carefully after being out for so long, but Andrew Crofts is a natural replacement if the Algerian has a problem.
Tarique Fosu, Billy Clarke and Ricky Holmes are likely to be the advanced trio, though Holmes has had injury concerns during pre-season. New signing, Ben Reeves, could be on the bench.
Josh Magennis took a knock against Ipswich but carried on. As long as he has not suffered any reaction during the week, he will be the lone front runner.
Robinson could opt for this side:
Amos; Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Dasilva; Kashi, Forster-Caskey, Holmes, Clarke, Fosu; Magennis.
Subs: Phillips, Dijksteel, Konsa, Crofts,
Reeves, Watt, Novak.
The referee will be Christopher Sarginson of Staffordshire.
Robinson will be confident of getting the campaign off to a winning start.
The club will publish their squad numbers on Friday , but some have already been revealed on the player profile page of the club website.
Tony Watt – who is attracting interest from Championship clubs – reverts to his favoured 32 shirt, Fosu takes number 7, Clarke is 10, Mark Marshall is 14, and Reeves posed in the number 12 shirt on Thursday.
But there was no squad number next to Naby Sarr’s photo….