There will be over 30,000 at Bramall Lane on Sunday to witness two sides trying to create a little bit of FA Cup history.

Sheffield United will be trying to reach their first semi-final for 21 years. If they are successful, they will become the first third tier side to reach a semi since heroic Chesterfield in 1997.

Charlton have not managed to reach the last four since they lifted the trophy in 1947.

The Addicks will be backed by a travelling army of over 5,000 fans despite there being no train service. Exiled Addicks in most parts of the world will be able to follow the game on live television, with kick-off times ranging from 5.00am on the west coast of Canada to 2.00am Monday morning in Indonesia.

The Blades are bang in form, winning their last eight games in all competitions and far from being a distraction, the Cup has galvanised Nigel Clough’s team. Since beating Aston Villa, Fulham and Nottingham Forest, they have climbed out of the relegation zone.

Chris Powell has had the benefit of a clear week to prepare his side. The rest will have benefited the youngsters and also given those who have been carrying knocks time to recover.

Clough plays a similar style to Powell and if his team take the lead they are likely to dig in and defend it.

United have one or two injury worries, talented central defender, Harry Maguire, has been missing recently and John Brayford and Jamie Murphy picked up knocks last week.

If Brayford does not recover in time, Clough will have to deploy a utility player at right-back. Powell may decide to use Callum Harriott’s pace and trickery to exploit any perceived weakness.

The blistering pace of 21-year-old Stephan Scougall will cause Charlton problems and Powell – who was at Bramall Lane on Tuesday – will be sure to have a plan to try and stop the Scot’s influence.

The Addicks have injury worries of their own with Michael Morrison, Rhoys Wiggins and Simon Church all requiring treatment in the week.

Powell will also have to assess the toll the recent run of games has had on young prodigy, Diego Poyet.

Ben Hamer will keep the gloves and Powell will be hoping he can field an unchanged back-four of Lawrie Wilson, Michael Morrison, Richard Wood and Rhoys Wiggins. Morgan Fox would probably come in if Wiggins does not make it and Dorian Dervite is a ready made replacement for Morrison.

Powell will probably opt for a five man midfield with Astrit Ajdarevic pushed up just behind the lone striker. Simon Church, if his knee recovers in time, is the likely front runner. Marcus Tugay is eligible for this game and scored four goals against the Blades in his Sheffield Wednesday days.

Charlton could look like this:

Hamer; Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins; Cousins, Poyet, Jackson, Ajdarevic, Harriott; Church.

Subs: Thuram-Ulien, Fox, Dervite, Hughes, Green, Ghoochannejhad, Tudgay.

Top referee, Lee Mason from Lancashire, will be the man in the middle.

How the players of both sides react to the big crowd and expectation level will be a factor in the outcome of the match. The one result no one wants is a draw but it would be no surprise if the game went to a replay at The Valley.