Norwich City v Ipswich Town: Rivals meet in East Anglian derby with promotion at stake

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna hopes to give his side's supporters "another fantastic day" in the East Anglian derby at Carrow Road on Saturday.

"The players have given the supporters so many nights to enjoy over the past couple of years, so many memories," McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"We know that winning away to our local rivals would be another fantastic day."

Victory would take Ipswich one step closer to a first return to the Premier League since 2002.

But they are not only playing against 18 years of derby history on Saturday, but have to topple Norwich's excellent recent home form - the third-best in the Championship - having not lost on home soil since November.

"We have to take advantage of being at home," Norwich manager David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"We have to make sure we have this energy in the stands and on the pitch as well, and if we do then we have everything to make it very uncomfortable for our opponent."

'The weeks before don't count in a derby'

Norwich have promotion hopes of their own and will start the day in the final play-off place, with a four-point cushion ahead of Coventry.

"It makes it even more exciting because you want to test yourself against the best, and after 40 games they are the best, so it makes even more interesting and probably counts more for us to cause the league leaders some problems," Wagner said.

"Our home record is top class but what happened in the weeks before doesn't really count in a derby. You have to be focused on yourself, calm in your head and be super competitive, fight for every inch and this is what we will do."

Norwich were beaten at Leicester on Easter Monday, breaking a three-game winning streak, while Ipswich travel north having reeled off three wins in a row.

"Of course it's a derby game, it's special for the supporters - and what's special for the supporters is special for the players - because that connection is so strong, and we'll be full of determination to make our supporters proud," McKenna added.

"But it's just one more game in a fantastic season full of big experiences and challenges. What we've done so far is taken those challenges head-on, and we'll look to do the same again on Saturday.

"These are occasions to relish. Especially how we go into the game and the trajectory of the clubs in recent times. In my experience, going away from home and getting a result is some of the best wins I've been part of. And we'll endeavour to make Saturday another one of those."