Two sides with contrasting targets will meet at Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon.
Hosting Norwich City have slipped into the Premier League's bottom three over recent weeks, while Manchester City are still chasing the title despite the deficit that has opened up between them and leaders Leicester City.
Norwich
© Getty Images
The feeling of doom has well and truly descended upon Carrow Road.
It is little surprise when you consider that the Canaries have won just one match in 2016 and that was on January 2.
Ten defeats have been suffered since then, while the one draw felt like a loss given that West Ham United clawed back from two goals to claim a share of the spoils in Norfolk.
Consequently, Alex Neil's men have fallen into the relegation zone and the slide has shown no sign of halting.
Scoring goals has been an issue at times, but it is defensively where Norwich's real problems lie. They have shipped 54 goals in 29 games - a record that is only better than that of basement side Aston Villa.
Yet, there is at least some reason for optimism. When Norwich went down in 2014, their run-in pitted them against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
This time around they face the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Newcastle United - all sides that are in and around them in the table. In a way, it could be argued that their destiny is in their own hands.
Recent form (all competitions): LLDLLL
Man City
© Getty Images
When you are in desperate need of a victory, there is no better team to play than a hapless Villa side.
City found that out to their benefit last Saturday as they hammered the relegation certainties 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Prior to that trouncing, the Citizens had faced a barrage of criticism and doubts following a run of three straight Premier League defeats. Not even lifting the League Cup and taking a commanding position in their Champions League tie with Dynamo Kiev did much to raise the mood.
As far as their title aspirations go, those losses have left the 2012 and 2014 champions 10 points adrift of table-toppers Leicester City. Even with a game in hand, their chances of glory now appear slim.
The bookmakers seem to agree, with most of the leaders on the high street offering odds of around 6-1 that Manuel Pellegrini will bow out with a second Premier League winners' medal around his neck.
However, any side that can boast Sergio Aguero up front should not be completely ruled out. He scored twice against Villa (and missed a penalty), while he has also found the net five times against Norwich in the Premier League.
Recent form (all competitions): LLWDLW
Team News
© Getty Images
Raheem Sterling started the game against Villa among the substitutes, but there is every chance that he will be recalled.
Wilfried Bony is likely to drop out in what may otherwise be an unchanged starting lineup.
As for Norwich, boss Neil has often opted to play with a 3-5-2 formation at home.
If he continues that trend it would mean a return to the defence for Ryan Bennett, with Wes Hoolahan potentially dropping out further up the pitch.
January signing Steven Naismith returned to action last weekend and should retain his place in attack.
Norwich possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Pinto, Klose, Martin, Bennett, Brady; Howson, Dorrans, Redmond, Naismith; Bamford
Man City possible starting lineup:
Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Sterling; Aguero
Head To Head
Goals are invariably guaranteed when these two sides face off against each other.
After all, in the last 10 games between the pair in all competitions, the net has been bulged 44 times.
Both their meetings this term have been won by the side from East Manchester - 2-1 in the Premier League and then 3-0 in the FA Cup.
The Dugout Podcast
Hit play below to listen to Sports Mole's new podcast 'The Dugout' for our take on the week's biggest football talking points:
We say: Norwich 1-3 Man City
Norwich have not beaten City on their own patch since 2001 and that is not likely to change on this occasion. The hosts have big problems defensively and you would expect Aguero and co to make the most of that.
Liam Apicella
