With perfect symmetry, the opening game of 2014 will herald the start of the second half of the season.

Clubs have played every other team in the Championship once and Wednesday’s round of games will be the first of the reverse fixtures.

The Addicks were beaten 1-0 at The Valley by Ipswich at the end of November and will view the visit to Portman Road as a tough ask.

Mick McCarthy’s team are in fine form and now sit in the play-off zone. A big, strong side, Charlton will have to match the Tractor Boys physically if they are to take anything from the game.

With rain forecast for East Anglia, the match will be played on another energy sapping pitch.

Chris Powell will have a number of decisions to make about his starting line-up. Ben Alnwick will continue in goal but the heavy pitch is likely to rule out Chris Solly again. Rhoys Wiggins should return after attending the birth of his first child.

The midfield was shuffled about on Sunday after Lawrie Wilson was drafted in to replace Solly at right-back. Dale Stephens moved to the wide right but he is  at his best in a more central role.

The change did allow Powell to reinstate Johnnie Jackson to the centre of the park and he may be tempted to leave things as they are. Cameron Stewart will make his last appearance before returning to Hull.

The Kermorgant – Church partnership at the front is likely to be kept intact. Charlton could look like this:

Alnwick; Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins; Stephens, Cousins, Jackson, Stewart; Kermorgant, Church.

Subs: Pope, Evina, Dervite, Green, Hughes, Pigott,  Sordell.

The referee will be Stuart Attwell from Warwickshire.

Powell wanted to take something from every festive fixture and thus far he is on track. If he can get a point at Portman Road he will be satisfied that he has met his objective.