By Andrew McKenzie

McClaren and Curbishley are battling for the England job and the FA Cup

Charlton face Middlesbrough in the quarter-final of the FA Cup at The Valley on Thursday.

And the game pitches two of the leading candidates for the England coaching job against each other.

When Sven-Goran Eriksson steps down this summer Charlton's Alan Curbishley and Steve McClaren of Middlesbrough are expected to contend for the post.

BBC Sport looks at the head-to-head battle ahead of the last-eight tie.

McClaren's claim to succeed Eriksson is helped by the groundwork he has done behind the scenes.

The Boro boss is in his second spell as part of Eriksson's coaching team.

He has juggled a part-time position under Eriksson with his full-time role at the Riverside and went to both the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 with England.

Curbishley has no European or international experience but is widely regarded as one of the most talented English coaches in the Premiership - having learned his trade during 15 years as Charlton boss.

He has guided Charlton from a club in financial crisis and without a home to a well-established, top-flight outfit on limited resources.

Curbishley has also confirmed he has held talks with the Football Association in relation to the England post.

McClaren started his coaching career at Oxford United after finishing his career as a player - following spells with Hull, Derby and Bristol City.

He then worked under Jim Smith at Derby before securing a move to Manchester United to become manager Sir Alex Ferguson's right-hand man.

The Red Devils won the Treble in his first season and the success in his three years at Old Trafford meant it was only a matter of time before he was offered a managerial role.

That came when Boro made him the permanent successor to Bryan Robson in 2001.

As a player Curbishley began life at West Ham before having spells with Birmingham, Aston Villa, Charlton and Brighton.

He returned to Charlton as player-boss in 1991 - initially as a joint manager with Steve Gritt.

Curbishley took sole control of the Addicks in 1995 - taking them into the top flight three years later.

When Curbishley took over at Charlton the club were a struggling side in the old Division Two.

Under Curbishley they secured promotion to the Premiership through the play-offs in 1998 but lasted one season in the top flight.

But the club stuck by their young boss and were rewarded when they won the Division One title in 2000.

Since being promoted to the Premiership the club have rarely looked like falling out of the division but some fans have been upset at what they see as a lack of progress in recent years.

However, the general feeling is that Curbishley has performed something of a footballing miracle in establishing them as a mid-table side on a shoestring budget.

Indeed, Curbishley must look on with envy at the riches afforded to McClaren at the Riverside.

The boss has rarely left wanting by chairman Steve Gibson when it comes to entering the transfer market.

McClaren's millions have helped him put together a talented squad, resulting in his best league campaign last year with a seventh-place finish.

He has also lifted Boro's only major trophy in winning the League Cup in 2004 and has overcome some major doubts about his ability to see them through to the Uefa Cup quarter-finals this season.

The two managers have come face-to-face on 10 occasions - and the formbook does not bode well for Boro fans.

McClaren has tasted victory only once - a 2-1 win at the Valley in October 2004.

Curbishley, on the other hand, has won four of the games - three of them coming at The Valley.

He has also got the better of his rival in both league meetings this season.

Winning the FA Cup would be the highlight of either Curbishley or McClaren's career - and could only help to push their England claims.

Unfortunately neither manager can boast much success in the competition in recent seasons.

McClaren, who took Boro to the semi-finals in his first season, has not made it past the fourth round in the last three seasons after a semi-final appearance in his first year.

Under Curbishley, Charlton, who have not made the semi-finals since winning the Cup in 1947, can boast only three fifth-round appearances in 11 seasons.