It has been nine seasons since this particular London derby was last contested, and this is only the second time ever that both clubs have been in the top flight during the same season.
Ian Holloway's return to the Premier League with Palace is proving to be a slow-burner compared to the early stages of his return with Blackpool three years ago.
Crystal Palace have lost six of their seven league games so far - including the last four in a row - representing the club's worst run of form for three years.
Back in 2010, Blackpool took 10 points from their opening seven Premier League games and were still in the top half of the table by January of that campaign.
Despite the good start, ultimately that season still ended in relegation for the Tangerines. So Holloway will be more aware than most of the endurance needed for the clichéd marathon, rather than sprint, that lies ahead.
Fulham have been slow to find their stride this season. A run of one point from five games had been piling pressure on Martin Jol. However the victory against Stoke last time out made the international break a more tranquil period than it might have been.
The new Fulham owner Shahid Khan is tentatively backing his manager: "Martin is a very experienced coach. He's a good guy. We've gotten off to a start nobody's happy with, whether you're a fan or you're Martin. We want to do better but I'm not the kind of person who's going to act on impulse."
One man that Fulham do hope will be acting on impulse is Darren Bent; the striker grabbed the winner against Stoke and looks to be finding his feet at his new club. Bent has scored two of only five Premier League goals his side have managed this season.
Head-to-head
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This is only the third top-flight fixture between the two clubs. Palace won 2-0 at home in the Premier League in October 2004 before losing 3-1 at Fulham on New Year's Day 2005.
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That 2004 victory for Palace is their only home win in the last 10 attempts against Fulham (D5, L4).
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A Fulham player has scored twice in three of the last four meetings between these sides (Andy Cole, Lee Clark and Luis Boa Morte).
Crystal Palace
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The Eagles have lost six of their seven Premier League matches and failed to score in four of them.
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Palace and Sunderland are the only two sides yet to keep a Premier League clean sheet this season.
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They have had their goal frame struck on a league-high seven occasions this season.
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Ian Holloway's side have lost all five games this season in which they conceded the opening goal.
Fulham
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Fulham ended a barren run of one point from five matches with victory over Stoke in their last fixture.
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Darren Bent's winning goal in that game came on his 250th Premier League appearance; he has scored 105 goals. Since 2008-09, only three players (Van Persie, Rooney and Lampard) have scored more goals than Bent (67).
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Fulham's tally of five Premier League goals is the joint-second worst in the division after seven matches, behind Stoke.
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Three of Fulham's five league goals this season have been scored by substitutes (Bent twice and Bryan Ruiz), more than any other side.
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Martin Jol's side have failed to score in nine of their last 16 league away games, scoring just 11 goals.