Lee Bowyer gives Marcus Maddison fitness update as Sunderland prepare for step into the unknown
A familiar foe, but in a very unfamiliar guise.
Clashes against Charlton Athletic are at the very centre of Sunderland's recent history and with seven points from nine so far, Saturday's game gives the Black Cats an opportunity to build on their momentum and perhaps banish a demon or two along the way.
What to make of Charlton, though?
Three factors mean few will be writing them off when it comes to promotion contention.
One, the management of Lee Bowyer, whose work during a period of significant off-pitch turmoil has caught the eye of many.
Two, the smattering of good quality players retained from the previous two seasons and three, the recent takeover by Thomas Sandgaard that has finally allowed Bowyer to begin adding to that core group.
Sunderland are presented with both a challenge and an opportunity.
Boywer's side are, by his own admission, a side very much in transition.
They are far from their strongest at present, but Phil Parkinson will be kept guessing as to exactly what he should expect until the teamsheets drop on Saturday afternoon.
"I saw them play at Lincoln last Sunday," Parkinson explained.
"I said to the lads during our preparation, they've gone 4-3-3 and three at the back during their game against Doncaster, then more or less a 4-4-2 last week.
"It is difficult to predict what the personnel and the shape is going to be.
"So it's a game where we have to concentrate on what we have to do to be at our best.
"It won't be until we get their team that see who they have available.
"It's a huge game.
"Every game has an importance but with the break coming up for us, it's got that little extra to it.
"Preparation has been good and we have to make sure that come 3 o'clock, we're ready."
It has been a frenetic period for Charlton in the wake of Sandgaard's takeover, with the arrival of Marcus Maddison catching the eye on Thursday evening.
Maddison, Bowyer today revealed, is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.
“His fitness is low,” he said.
"He hasn’t really done much, I think he’s done a little bit of training with another club. Apart from that his fitness is behind everybody.
“That’s the problem you get when you sign players who aren’t at other clubs – they are gonna be behind.”
Two recent signings more likely to be involved are Ben Watson, an impressive addition on a free transfer, and young Norwich City loanee Akin Famewo, a defender who impressed Bowyer on debut last week.
Alex Gilbey, a key signing from MK Dons in the summer, is injured, and there was a further blow on Friday when QPR completed a deal for Macauley Bonne.
The deal could bank the Addicks as much as £2 million, a remarkable profit for a player signed from non-league just a year ago.
But it leaves Bowyer short of attacking options ahead of Sunderland's visit on Saturday, though Chuks Aneke is fit again after recovering from COVID-19.
Recent experience means that Sunderland will know better than to underestimate a side under Bowyer's canny management, but ahead of a fortnight break, it is also clear that opportunity knocks.