The Addicks crumbled at the group stages last season, losing all three games 2-1 to Brighton, Millwall and Gillingham, but are the senior team in the five-strong group this time around.

Technical director Mortimer will take the chance to shuffle his pack and rest some players whilst giving the likes of Charley Clifford and Jenny Newman some much needed game time.

He said: “It is an opportunity to play some other players but the players that come in will all have played senior football and been at this level so that is not a problem.

“We were rubbish [last year] and we got what we deserved against Brighton. I don’t expect that to happen this time around. I expect us to be ready to go.

“You know what the cup is like, anything can happen on the day but I expect whoever plays to be ready to play and focussed and ready for action.”

The Addicks currently sit in third place in the National Division and have impressed on their return to the division whilst their four rivals, the three from last season plus QPR, all ply their trade in the league below.

Mortimer hopes this does not translate into complacency, adding: “I hope my players don’t think because they are in the division below we should beat them easily, that is not going to be the case.

“I can remember when we were in that division I would be saying to the girls it is a free week, you’re not expected to win so relax the pressure is on the team above.

“Now the boot is on the other foot. We are now the team that is going to be under pressure. Brighton will come here and relax because they are not expected to win.

“What I expect my girls to do is compete and play properly and understand that it is going to be a tough game and we want to do better than we did last year.”

Charlton Athletic Women v Brighton and Hove Albion Women
FA Women’s Premier League Cup
Location: Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ
When: Sunday 29 January
Kick off: 1400

Brighton (Last Season):
FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division: 7th
FA Women’s Premier League Cup: 2nd round (Lost 3-2 to Barnet)
FA Women’s Cup: 1st round (Lost 1-0 to West Ham United)

Previous Meeting(s):
7 March 2010, League: Home, Drew 0-0.
2 May 2010, League: Away, Won 2-1: Gemma Bryan, Katie Flack.
29 August 2010, League Cup: Away, Lost 2-1: Stef Simmons.
6 March 2011, League: Away, Won 4-1: Gemma Bryan (3), Grace Coombs.
17 April 2011, League: Home, Won 2-0: Charley Clifford, Fliss Gibbons.