The Addicks are firmly rooted to the bottom of the Championship with 18 games remaining to achieve the great escape, starting with the visit of Neil Warnock and maybe more importantly to the home fans, Simon Jordan's side.
Phil Parkinson knows that staying up will be difficult, but he also knows three points against Palace can give the fans something to smile about after a miserable four months which has seen the team pick up just one win out of 20.
Saturday's FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United was a far more respectable performance than the last league fixture, a 4-1 defeat to the blue side of the city and the substitute performance of Chris Dickson has given Parky something to think about when it comes to team selection.
Dickson could get a start in front of the fans who have called for him to feature more regularly, and if a 4-4-2 formation is used then he could line up alongside Deon Burton or Andy Gray, with Jonjo Shelvey moving into the centre of the midfield or possibly to the bench.
On-loan Graeme Murty returns after missing Saturday's cup game and starts at right-back with Grant Basey on the left flank, but one man who could miss out at the back is skipper and former Eagle Mark Hudson.
The centre-half has an ankle knock and if he is unable to play, Matt Holland will move from the centre of midfield to partner Jon Fortune, the man whose goal on the final day of the 2004/05 season relegated Palace from the Premier League.
In midfield, Tom Soares who spent five seasons at Selhurst Park makes his home debut after his loan move from Stoke City and could partner Nicky Bailey in midfield. Lloyd Sam and Darren Ambrose are expected to be on the wings.
Possible side for Crystal Palace: Elliot, Murty, Fortune, Holland(c), Basey, Sam, Bailey, Soares, Ambrose, Dickson, Gray
Subs: Randolph, Shelvey, Burton, Spring, Youga