Norwich City and Leicester City meet in a high-profile showdown in the Championship on Wednesday evening as both sides look to keep the pressure on leaders Preston North End.
The Canaries and Foxes occupy fourth and second position in the standings respectively after collecting nine wins from 12 matches between them in the second tier.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having lost out to Rotherham United before the international break, Norwich boss David Wagner was aware that his side needed to bounce back against Stoke City on Saturday.
While Norwich looked far from the team that boast the best attacking record in the division, a Jack Stacey goal just before half time earned the East Anglian team a 1-0 victory at Carrow Road.
Norwich hold just one of two perfect home records in the division - leaders Preston possessing the other - and Wagner will be more than content with 13 points being accumulated from six fixtures thus far.
Nevertheless, the German will recognise that there is much work ahead to retain a promotion push, even though everyone associated with Norwich may be relishing playing with lower expectations in comparison to 2022-23.
Wagner and his players have already come across one recently-relegated Premier League side this season - posting a 4-4 draw at Southampton - but Leicester showed a far more ruthless streak in the same fixture on Friday.
© Reuters
On the same day that Norwich succumbed to Rotherham, Leicester surprisingly lost their 100% record in a home fixture versus Hull City, leaving Enzo Maresca with much to ponder over the rest period.
Furthermore, the Foxes had not scored more than twice in a single Championship fixture since his arrival - despite the talent at his disposal - but that all changed at St Mary's last week.
Helped by a strike from Jamie Vardy after just 21 seconds, Leicester posted a 4-1 win at the home of Southampton, all four of those efforts coming in the first three quarters of the contest.
The East Midlands outfit have now won each of their three away league fixtures this season - the other triumphs coming at Huddersfield Town and Rotherham respectively - and Maresca will view this an opportunity to make another statement against a potential title rival.
Team News
© Reuters
Norwich will remain without midfielder Marcelino Nunez who sustained an ankle injury during the international break.
Dimitris Giannoulis also has a thigh issue, but Wagner is confident that the Greece international will be fit for this game.
Adam Idah should retain his spot in attack ahead of Hwang Ui-jo in what may prove to be an unchanged starting lineup.
Having had an extra day of recovery, Maresca could opt to select the same Leicester XI from the victory over Southampton.
Chelsea loanee Cesare Casadei featured for the final 32 minutes of that fixture, but the Italy Under-21 international may have to remain patient for a first Championship start of the season.
Kelechi Iheanacho could be considered a recall ahead of Vardy if Maresca feels that he requires a greater physical presence in attack.
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, Giannoulis; Sara, McLean; Fassnacht, Barnes, Rowe; Idah
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Justin, Vestergaard, Doyle, Pereira; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; McAteer, Vardy, Mavididi
We say: Norwich City 2-3 Leicester City
As two of the best attacking sides in the division, this can surely only be an entertaining encounter. Norwich will back themselves to record the win that would move them ahead of their opponents, yet Leicester's performance at Southampton suggests that their superior class may eventually prevail in the closing stages.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
