PER Frandsen is confident there will be no cup hangovers when Wanderers return to Premiership action at Charlton on Saturday.

The determined Dane returned to the side at Aston Villa, where he played a key role in helping secure a place in the Carling Cup Final, and now has his sights on making a happy return to the Millennium Stadium, where he enjoyed success in the First Division Play-off Final three years ago.

But, after the champagne celebrations, the priority now is to secure a top-half finish in the league and Frandsen, who has maintained all along that Wanderers have too much quality and character to be dragged into the drop zone, is sure the team will be fully focused at The Valley.

"It won't be difficult to get ready for Charlton," he said confidently, "and, if we can get three points, it will be very good for us.

"I have been confident all season, even when things were not going well for us, but we have continued to play well and results have been going for us.

"I'm not surprised at what we have achieved. We have made a lot of progress in the last two years and I think we can continue to do well for the rest of the season because of the players we have."

The postponement of the second leg of the semi-final between Middlesbrough and Arsenal means that Wanderers must wait to know who they will meet in Cardiff on February 29.

Frandsen has no preference and is just looking forward to playing in the final.

"I have been thinking about it quite a bit but it will probably sink in a little more over the next few days," he said. "It doesn't matter who we play. The main thing was to get to the final and that is what we have done."

Kevin Davies, who is one of only three players -- Jussi Jaaskelainen and Ivan Campo being the others -- who have started every Premiership game, says Wanderers must now look to move up the league.

"This will be a big game for us tomorrow." he said. "We're only a few points off fifth in the table and we're looking to finish as high as we can.

"Tenth in the league and in a major cup final . . . it's been a great season for us so far, but there's a long way to go yet."

Clubless in the summer after being released by Southampton, Sheffield-born Davies has made a powerful impact on the Premiership, establishing himself from the start as Sam Allardyce's first-choice striker -- a transformation he puts down, in part, to Wanderers' training regime.

"I've probably never worked as hard," he admits.

"I've never been really lazy but I have a job to do for the team and I enjoy doing it.

"I'm not the only one, though. We're a fit set of lads; we work hard and we're getting our rewards."

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Ground: The Valley

Nickname: The Addicks

Manager: Alan Curbishley

Current position: 4th

Top scorer: Jason Euell 6 (All Premiership)

Last six Premiership: Everton (a) won 1-0; Wolves (h) won 2-0; Man City (a) drew 1-1; Tottenham (a) won 1-0; Chelsea (h) won 4-2; Newcastle (h) drew 0-0.

Last time out: Everton 0, Charlton 1.

How they lined up: Kiely, Kishishev, Fish, Perry, Hreidarsson, Stuart (Young

90), Holland, Euell, Konchesky, Cole (Johansson 75), Di Canio (Fortune 87)

Danger man: Paulo Di Canio - the hugely talented Italian has been one of the main reasons for Charlton's rise to fourth this season, having netted three goals and set up many more for the Addicks. Manager Curbishley signed the 35-year-old on a free transfer from West Ham during the summer and while his fiery personality has seen him fall out with his bosses before, so far Di Canio and Curbishley are on the same wavelength.

Form guide: Despite a shock 3-2 defeat at Gillingham in the FA Cup, Charlton have maintained the incredible form that has put them in a Champions League place. The Addicks have won four and drawn two of their last six matches, including a 4-2 over Chelsea on Boxing Day.

Last season: January 18, 2003; Charlton 1 (Fish) Bolton 1 (Djorkaeff)

Selection update: Scott Parker's move to Chelsea is a blow but Curbishley was encouraged by the win at Everton when he dropped the midfielder, explaining he was not in the right frame of mind. He played Matt Holland and Jason Euell in the centre of midfield and used Graham Stuart on the right with Paul Konchesky on the left, which meant no place for the fit-again former Wanderer Claus Jensen, who had to watch from the bench. Could be much the same again tomorrow.