Ipswich Town know that a fifth straight victory at Portman Road when Charlton Athletic visit on Tuesday night will guarantee them a place in the Championship's top two for the New Year.

Mick McCarthy's side sit second going into the game, four points adrift of leaders Bournemouth, but a draw or defeat will allow Derby County to go above them if they see off Leeds United.

The Tractor Boys will be confident of victory given their league-best home form - they are the only team with eight home victories to their name - and the fact that they have the division's top scorer by two goals in Daryl Murphy.

The Irishman scored Ipswich's first two as they blew away fellow top-six side Brentford on Boxing Day, scoring three goals in the first half before running out 4-2 winners.

That means the Blues are 10 games unbeaten, winning seven, and have lost just one game since August.

Playing Charlton will also bring back good memories after they stole the points with a 95th-minute strike from debutant Noel Hunt in the reverse exactly a month ago.

McCarthy has no fresh injury concerns, but is likely to welcome back sought-after defender Tyrone Mings, who has been forced to sit out the last two games. Luke Hyam is also fit again after over a month on the sidelines.

Charlton, meanwhile, come into the game without a win in six, but they will take heart from their strong recent record at Portman Road.

The Addicks have suffered defeat just once in their last five trips to Suffolk, with Johnnie Jackson scoring a late equaliser on New Year's Day in this fixture last season.

Bob Peeters will also be encouraged by Friday's draw at home to Cardiff City.

Although it was the club's 13th stalemate of the season - more than anyone else in the division - they conceded early and had Callum Harriott sent off in the first half before Johann Berg Gudmundsson's late rocket which rescued a point.

Harriott's dismissal will likely see Igor Vetokele return to the starting lineup and Jordan Cousins move out to the left wing.

The Addicks' recent winless run has seen them fall to 11th in the table and they are nine points adrift of the playoffs.

Ipswich:

Recent form: DWWDWW

Possible starting lineup: Bialkowski; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings; Skuse, Bishop, Tabb; Anderson, Murphy, McGoldrick

Charlton:

Recent form: DLDDLD

Possible starting lineup: Etheridge; Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Gomez; Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson, Cousins; Vetokele, Tucudean

Sports Mole says: 2-0