Town boss Joe Royle has a squad of 18 players to pick from as the Blues go into the crucial East Anglian derby with Norwich City on Sunday. After a season dominated by injuries, only long-term absentees Chris Makin and Drissa Diallo, as well as Alun Armstrong, remain on the sidelines.

Makin is set to have an operation on his thigh problem in the next few days while Diallo is likely to return to action after his knee surgery over the Christmas period.

Armstrong received a deep cut to his leg in the reserve game against Tottenham recently, and is around 10 days away from a comeback.

Midfielder Tommy Miller is available for selection despite having four wisdom teeth removed earlier this week. The Scottish call-up trained on Friday morning and came through without a problem.

Royle faces some difficult choices and he admits he's going to disappoint someone: “We have 18 available first team players and there'll be two unhappy people on Sunday. I'll tell the players the team and the squad on Saturday.

“We've got big choices in all three departments. Richard Naylor, who was doing so well before his injury, has every right to expect to play. Alan Mahon, Tommy Miller and Martijn Reuser are all threatening last week's side and up front there's Pablo, of course.

“They've all played a big part. They're nice but difficult choices. One way or another we will have a defender on the bench out of Richard Naylor, Georges Santos and John McGreal. We won't be switching to three centre backs to accommodate players, we'll be going with the 4-4-2 that's been good for us.

“I'm very wary that one or two sides have been changing their format to play against us, and I take that as a compliment. But I wouldn't really expect Norwich to do that.

“They are hard to beat and their record shows that they are hard to score against. I don't think they've lost too many games away from home, they've had a few draws and haven't won as many as us.”

The Canaries have brought in a couple of players prior to the game but Royle says he would rather talk about his own side: “I don't really want to be talking about other people's players at this stage. The last thing I want to do is give them any further motivation for the game.

“Whatever team they turn out that they'll be going for it the same as we will. It's a derby game, East Anglian pride is at stake and both sides will want to win it.

“However, we mustn't lose sight of the fact that it's only three points. Which ever side wins this game won't be guaranteed promotion, and the side which loses won't be out of it.”

Royle says his side's build-up to the game has gone well: “I'm focused on us. Our preparation has been good. The players have trained this morning, everyone's flying.

“They're all noisy, which is a good sign, and they're all full of themselves. It's shame that some of them are going to be disappointed on Sunday. We've spent most of the season waiting to get players fit, worrying about who'll be fit for this, that and the other, and now we have more than enough players.”

The Town manager says he approaches derby matches the same as any other: “You treat it as much as you can like another game. But, it will not be another game when they get out on the pitch, that's for sure.

“We have the same routine, although we've altered our week to accommodate it being a Sunday. The training has been the same, we've worked on the same things that we want to do.

“As I say each week, to the point of boredom, it's about what we do. I was saying that when we were bottom so I'm not going to change now that we are fourth top.”

Royle says that the Town support can play a big part in helping his side to victory: “The crowd can have a massive role. I look back to the game with Sheffield United last year when the crowd won the game for us.

“There have been one or two games this year when it has been a little quiet but that certainly won't apply on Sunday. I'm sure the local rivalry and the right to crow will take over until the next game, and the fans will be right behind us.”

Norwich have signed strikers Matt Svensson and Leon McKenzie but will not be adding former loanee Darren Huckerby to their squad before Sunday.

Manager Nigel Worthington has been in talks with the Manchester City player but has ruled out his involvement at Portman Road: "It will not be sorted out today. He's got to speak to West Brom on Monday. I'm just delighted that we've got this opportunity to lay our cards on the table and see where we can get to."

Central defender Malky Mackay is available after suspension and will return, although youngster Jason Shackell impressed in his absence against Cardiff City last week. The Canaries have no new injury worries ahead of Sunday.

Wakefield referee Alan Kaye will take charge of the game. Kay has shown 45 yellow cards and two reds this season in 14 games. He has not previously refereed a Town match but took charge of the Canaries' FA Cup third round clash with Brighton last season, which the Norfolk side won 3-1 after the match was initially postponed due to a generator failure.

Town: Davis, Abbey, Wilnis, Richards, Santos, Naylor, McGreal, Bart-Williams, Magilton, Wright, Westlake, Mahon, Reuser, Miller, Bent, Couñago, Kuqi, Bowditch.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls