It has been widely reported that Charlton have accepted a new bid from Swindon for Paul Benson. Paolo di Canio offered strlker, Leon Clarke, in a straight swap.

More of a target man, Clarke would not be a like-for-like swap so Powell may still be looking for a poacher to provide back up for Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Before that deal can be officially completed the Addicks have to make the short journey through the Blackwall Tunnel to face Leyton Orient.

Chris Powell has a number of decisions to make. Danny Green is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season on Monday. Scott Wagstaff missed that game with a foot niggle but Powell is hopeful he will be fit for the Orient game.

Johnnie Jackson is fit again and could be involved over the weekend, while Rhoys Wiggins, Darel Russell and Danny Hollands are all on four bookings and would miss Monday’s match with Brentford if cautioned on Saturday. Powell has indicated that this could influence his team selection which seems odd. Surely, it is better to secure the three points in East London then worry about Brentford? Here are the maanger’s thoughts on the situation:

“Johnnie’s been fine. He needs the training now because of the amount of time he’s been out, but he’s looked good and looked strong.

“He did a lot of good work before he joined the group and it’s almost like he hasn’t been away.

“That’s good for him, and we are hopeful that means he can be in contention for Orient or, at the worst, Brentford.

“Because of the two games in three days, it will be good to have him back and ready, and we also look forward to Dale (Stephens) joining the group in the new year.”

“You want to go out with your strongest team in any game, that’s for certain but the balance has to be right because if they do get booked they miss the Brentford game.

“If they get booked against Brentford, it doesn’t matter because it will have already reverted to ten.

“Ideally, I want our strongest team, and as strong as I can be for both games, but I have to box clever as well, in respect to whom I put out.

“You can never go out there and say ‘don’t get booked’ as that just doesn’t happen for you like that.

“It’s something I’m mindful of and I will look into the situation, and then decide by Friday – as I always do with my team – who will be starting,” said Chris.

It’s hyperthetical of course, but if any of the trio are rested on Saturday it could be meaningless, who’s to know if they would have picked up a fifth caution?

For any other game it would not even be a consideration. The fly in the ointment is that the ‘bookings amnesty’ kicks in on Sunday when a player will not be suspended until he accrues ten bookings. The likelihood is Powell will opt to field his strongest team.

Orient succumbed 0-3 at home to in-form MK Dons on Monday, so Powell will be upbeat about his chances. Ex-Addick, Kevin Lisbie, has made a habit of scoring against his old team and will need to be watched. Charlton should be good enough to win the fixture for the third successive season.

Powell could start with this team:

Hamer; Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins; Wagstaff, Russell, Hollands, Ephraim; Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips.

Subs: Sullivan, Cort, Hughes, Pritchard, Euell.

The referee will be Dean Whitestone from Northamptonshire.

Three points would be the perfect end to the year.