We do not have confirmed lineups or formations from the research, but we can paint a fair picture based on how these two tend to set up. Charlton, under their current coaching staff, are expected to line up in a compact 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1, designed to stay narrow, force play wide, and then hit on the break. They will look to make it a physical contest — winning first contacts, scrapping for second balls, and turning the game into a series of set-pieces. Derby, meanwhile, are likely to try and play through midfield with a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2, looking to dominate possession and use their full-backs to stretch the pitch. But that requires patience and precision, and if Charlton sit deep and deny space in behind, Derby could end up passing sideways in front of a packed defence.

The key battle will be in the middle of the park. Charlton's double pivot will look to screen the back four and break up play, while Derby's midfield three will need to find pockets of space between the lines. If Derby get their number tens on the half-turn, they can cause problems. But if Charlton press aggressively and force Derby into rushed decisions, the visitors will struggle to build any rhythm. Out wide, Charlton's wingers will tuck in and make it congested, while Derby's full-backs will push high — leaving space in behind that Charlton's strikers can exploit on the counter. It is a classic Championship chess match: one team happy to let the other have the ball, the other desperate to prove they can break down a low block.

Set-pieces could be the great equaliser. Charlton are a genuine threat from corners and free-kicks, and Derby's recent defensive display against Lincoln suggests they are vulnerable in the air. If Charlton can force a few dead-ball situations, they will fancy their chances.