Norwich City vs Ipswich Town. Sky Bet Championship.
Carrow RoadAttendance27,100.
Watch live on Sky Sports Football or Main Event from 11.30am on Sunday
Sunday 18 February 2018 12:28, UK
Norwich will check on defender Timm Klose and midfielder Moritz Leitner, who have minor calf problems, ahead of Sunday's East Anglia derby at home to Ipswich (kick-off 12pm).
Harrison Reed (back) is also being monitored, while captain Ivo Pinto could be in contention to start after recovering from a knee problem picked up when getting out of his car.
On-loan Tottenham midfielder Marcus Edwards (back) may also be in contention for a belated debut, and winger Matt Jarvis has returned to training from a long-term ankle problem. German midfielder Tom Trybull is, though, set for at least two months out after suffering ankle and knee ligament damage. Louis Thompson (Achilles) remains sidelined.
Ipswich could have forward David McGoldrick back from a knee injury, while defender Tristan Nydam should also return after he missed last weekend's goalless draw at Burton through illness. Reserve keeper Michael Crowe, though, was sent home from training on Friday because of a sickness bug, so will be monitored.
Manager Mick McCarthy reported no fresh injury problems as midfielder Tom Adeyemi (hamstring) continues his recovery. Emyr Huws, Luke Hyam and Andre Dozzell are all unavailable following their respective knee operations, while veteran goalkeeper Dean Gerken has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing hip surgery.
Norwich are unbeaten in their last nine matches against Ipswich in all competitions (W6 D3) since losing 3-2 in April 2009.
Since the turn of the Millennium, this fixture has been played 18 times on a Sunday - three times as many as any other fixture in the second tier.
The Tractor Boys haven't beaten Norwich at Carrow Road since February 2006, winning 2-1 with goals from Jimmy Juan and a Gary Doherty own-goal.
Norwich City have made more changes to their starting line-up this season than any other Championship team (83).
Ipswich have kept consecutive clean sheets in league competition - they last recorded three shutouts in a row back in April 2013 (5).
James Maddison (nine goals, five assists) has won more points courtesy of his goals and assists than any other player in the Championship this season (20). Indeed, Maddison has also created the most goalscoring chances in the division this season (76).
These two sides could not be any closer together heading into this game on Sunday. Only goal difference separates them and this could be the last-chance saloon for either to try and force their way into play-off contention.
Victory for either could kick-start a charge up the table, while defeat will surely ensure mid-table obscurity. Norwich nicked this one at Portman Road back in October, and I fancy them to do the same here.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 with James Maddison to score first (25/1 with Sky Bet)