While Norwich have been digging themselves out of a self-inflicted hole, Ipswich, like a sensible saver have been quietly building their balance of points.

As Coventry and Middlesbrough raced out of the blocks, Kieran McKenna’s side were busy getting used to life back in the Championship and up until 6 December were outside the top six.

Doing the double over Coventry either side of Christmas and with just two league defeats in 2026, Ipswich appear to be hitting their stride at just the right time.

McKenna says despite Norwich’s much-improved form he does not believe they are much different from when they faced each other at Portman Road earlier this season.

“It’s clear the manager has gone in there and done a really good job and picked up excellent results and over a period of time they’ve been one of the best teams in the division,” McKenna said.

“But they weren’t a bad team at the start of the season. Liam didn’t get results at the start of the season and get the momentum, which can happen in this division. But it’s not like they were a bad team at that point.

“At no stage in the season did I think they were a bad team and we had to work really hard and play well to beat them in the first game and will have to do the same again.”

Ipswich have not won at Carrow Road since February 2006 and are hoping for a first league double over their rivals in 33 years with McKenna preparing his players for a hostile atmosphere.

“When you are preparing for every game you try to give context to it, make sure the players know what the crowd might be like, what the stadium is like, what the pitch is like and what the context for the other team is,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“At this time of the season when you’re going for what we potentially are there’s external pressure on every game as there will be for our game at Portsmouth on Tuesday and Middlesbrough next weekend, that’s the way it is but it’s something you have to enjoy.”

Whoever takes the spoils on Saturday, their supporters can feel safe in their lifetime investment, until the next time.

BBC Sport will have live text commentary of the East Anglian derby between Norwich City and Ipswich Town on Saturday.