Town travel to Carrow Road on Sunday looking for the first double over Norwich City since 1992/93 (KO 12 noon). The Blues have concerns regarding keeper Lewis Price and midfielder Owen Garvan, while the Canaries have a major injury crisis.
Dutchman Fabian Wilnis, a man known for his strong anti-Canary views, will skipper Town in an East Anglian derby for the first time. Wilnis netted one of the six goals he has scored in his eight years at Portman Road in the Blues' 2-0 victory on enemy territory in February 2003.
The former De Graafschap man will move into the centre of the defence in place of Jason De Vos, who is out of action until pre-season after undergoing foot surgery. Wilnis will be partnered by Alex Bruce, who is OK to play after his red card against Derby was overturned by the FA. Richard Naylor is unavailable for the rest of the campaign due to bone bruising to a toe.
With the Dutchman moving to the centre, David Wright will switch to the right and Dan Harding will return on the left. If Lewis Price fails to recover from his foot problem, Shane Supple will be in goal. The Wales keeper faces a fitness test on Saturday before a decision is made on whether he will be able to play.
In midfield, George O'Callaghan will come into the centre alongside Gavin Williams should Owen Garvan's thigh problem keep him out of action. Like Price, Garvan also faces a Saturday assessment.
Jaime Peters is likely to be on the right with Gary Roberts on the left. Sylvain Legwinski is out for the rest of the season with a broken metatarsal.
Up front, boss Jim Magilton is likely to continue with the Jon Walters-Franny Jeffers partnership which helped beat Derby County last week, with top scorer Alan Lee amongst the subs.
Magilton has confirmed that derby specialist Danny Haynes, a Canaries trialist prior to joining Town, will play some part in the match from the bench. Haynes has now scored nine goals this season, with all his seven for the Blues coming after being introduced as a substitute.
The 19-year-old, whose goals have won the last two senior derbies and several others at lower levels over the last couple of seasons, opened his account for this year with two goals while at Millwall, a spell which the Town manager says kick-started his 2006/07: "Danny benefited from his loan with Millwall.
"He was tending to take things in his stride and there was not always the hunger there should have been. But he came back after his experience in League One with a different attitude.
"Danny has worked extremely hard since and has every chance of reaching the top. It goes without saying that Danny will feature in Sunday's match.”
Norwich continue to report big doubts regarding the availability of Darren Huckerby, who limped out of the warm-up at Burnley on Tuesday with a back problem, Dion Dublin, who came off with an ankle injury, and Lee Croft, who has hurt his hip.
Manager Peter Grant says he expects all three to miss out and is likely to be forced to call on more of his youngsters: "All the boys that came off the other night are very doubtful.
"You've got Hucks, you've got Dion and you've got Crofty. From what I've seen since the Burnley match they are very doubtful, but life goes on like that and I see it as an opportunity for another player. There's no use moping about it. We'll be ready for it.
"Sometimes it is an injury to one of your key players that prompts the emergence of somebody else. You only have to look at how Chrissy Martin came to the fore after Earnshaw's injury.”
Welsh international striker Earnshaw is back after his lengthy absence with a groin problem but may not be considered ready for the full 90 minutes.
Republic of Ireland U18 international Michael Spillane is expected to be handed a start in midfield with fellow youngsters Chris Martin and Kris Renton probably up front.
South African striker Bally Smart, 17, defender Andrew Cave-Brown and midfielder Patrick Bexfield, both 18, are also expected to be involved in what could be Norwich's youngest ever 16.
In goal, the Canaries will field Tony Warner, currently on loan from Fulham. The ex-Millwall man had an unsuccessful trial with the Blues in 1998, playing for a Town XI against a Colchester United side in Tony Adcock's testimonial at Layer Road.
Norfolk Police have issued a message to travelling Town supporters via Chief Superintendent Adrian Myhill: "I would like to take this opportunity to offer a warm welcome to all Ipswich Town Football Club supporters to the City of Norwich.
"All supporters travelling by both coach and rail services will be welcomed on their arrival in Norwich by Norfolk police officers and are advised to adhere to the directions given in relation to their safe approach and arrival at Carrow Road football ground.
"All efforts have been made in the planning of this event to ensure that all supporters of Ipswich Town Football Club can move to and from their arrival point in Norwich and the ground in a safe and secure environment.
"Norwich City Football Club will open the gates at 10.30am, at which point the bars within the stadium will be open for your use and enjoyment, providing all forms of refreshment. These bars will be open before the game and again at half-time.
"The Norfolk Constabulary strongly recommends that all supporters adhere to instructions given by the local police officers on your arrival in Norwich, to assist in ensuring that a safe, enjoyable and memorable day is had by all attending."
Town head the Canaries 38 to 33 in terms of overall derby victories, while 15 have ended in draws. The Blues have won two of their last three games at Carrow Road.
Sunday's referee is Steve Tanner from Somerset, who has shown 78 yellow and three red cards in 31 games this season. His last Town game was the 2-0 victory at Southampton last season, while he also took control of the 2-0 defeat to Reading earlier that year. Perhaps worryingly, he booked nine Town players during the course of those two matches.
Tanner's last Norwich game was their 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Torquay in August, while he also officiated in their 4-2 defeat at Luton last season. In those two matches he booked three Norwich players and sent off loanee defender Calum Davenport.
Probable squad: Price, Supple, Wright, Harding, Sito, Wilnis, Bruce, Miller, Garvan, Williams, O'Callaghan, Peters, Roberts, Richards, Walters, Jeffers, Lee, Haynes.
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