Huddersfield Town v Charlton Athletic: Clark hopes actions will speak much louder than words

The Terriers manager sat next to his Addicks counterpart, Phil Parkinson, on Monday night at Elland Road as Leeds United slumped to defeat at home to Millwall.

However, despite being in such close proximity for 90 minutes, neither mentioned today's upcoming game between their two clubs.

And Clark hopes that will help his Town side claim three points and move back into the play-off places.

He said: "I am looking forward to the game – it is just as big as the last home game against Norwich. It wasn't too long ago that Charlton were a Premier League side and they have a lot of good players."

Asked about his unexpected meeting with Parkinson just five days before such a crucial game between their respective clubs, Clark replied: "I did sit with him at Leeds on Monday night but we didn't talk at all about our game this weekend."

Victory today, if coupled with sixth-placed Colchester United losing at home to Wycombe Wanderers, would be enough to push Town back into the play-offs places.

However, with Charlton having prevailed at The Valley 2-1 when the two clubs met in October, Clark accepts his team will have to be on top of their game.

He said: "We respect Charlton immensely and we have done a lot of work on their style of play and set-pieces.

"But it comes down to what my players do with the ball and without it. If we get both aspects right, and get that little bit of luck that you need, we will win the match."

Clark, who is again likely to be without Lee Novak and Robbie Simpson through injury, failed in a bid to bring in two unnamed targets ahead of Thursday's loan deadline

He said: "It was not for the lack of trying.

"I kept trying until the last minute and the two managers in question must have been sick of me pestering them because I have been relentless over the last few weeks.

"But I understand their position. I was not prepared to let any of my players go out because I want to keep my squad fully here.

"As a result, I fully understand their positions."