Town boss Jim Magilton is waiting on the fitness of skipper Gareth McAuley as the Blues look to get back to winning ways against Derby County at Portman Road on Saturday. The Blues are definitely without Moritz Volz, who is serving a one-match ban.
The German full-back picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in last week's 1-0 defeat at Doncaster and will be replaced either by Ben Thatcher or Pim Balkestein, with David Wright switching from the left to Volz's right-sided defensive role.
Thatcher is now over the torn thigh muscle which kept him out of action during October and is probably the favourite to come into the side.
McAuley has a hamstring problem and Magilton says he is as yet undecided whether the Northern Irishman will be in the side having picked up the injury in training a week ago: "Hamstrings you have to be very wary of. He's done a little bit of light work and he'll do a little bit more today.
"If he's fit and well he'll play, if not then we'll have to watch the situation and make a decision again before Tuesday.â€Â
If McAuley misses out, Alex Bruce will continue alongside Richard Naylor, who will take the captain's armband.
In midfield, Magilton will have decide whether to continue with the central partnership of Owen Garvan and Veliche Shumulikoski, who were less impressive at Doncaster having been key to Town's previous run of good form.
Shumulikoski played 90 minutes for Macedonia in Montenegro in midweek and the Town manager may decide to give him a rest until Tuesday's game at Birmingham.
That may see David Norris switch into the centre, allowing Jon Walters to return to right midfield, however, Tommy Miller and Iván Campo will both be hoping for a return to the side. Walters is over a minor hip problem which appeared to hamper his performance at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Darren Ambrose may get the nod ahead of Alan Quinn on the left of midfield, the former academy product making his first appearance at Portman Road since his return to the club.
Magilton looks likely to make changes up front with Walters probably moving to midfield and Kevin Lisbie dropping out for Pablo Couñago and Jon Stead. Danny Haynes is back in the squad after his abductor injury.
Despite the disappointment of last week's loss at Doncaster, Magilton says the mood in training has been positive: "The atmosphere's been good. I think they are all hurting because we were seen nationwide on Sky and it was the poorest we've played in four or five weeks.
â€ÂI think they've had a bit of stick from family, relatives and friends, as I have. Probably we let ourselves down.
"It's gone now, it's forgotten about and we move on. Confidence is good, confidence is high. I hope the attitude is that they want to right the wrongs and they have the perfect opportunity at home against an up and coming Derby County side.â€Â
The Town boss has reiterated that he is unaffected by his critics in the media: "I am not bothered by the criticism that has been levelled at me and the team this week.
"In fact, it will inspire me to do more for this club and I am not affected by what has been said and written.
Derby, who currently sit in 12th, one place behind the Blues on goal difference, also have defensive problems with Martin Albrechtsen (calf) and Dean Leacock (groin) both definitely missing out and Claude Davis and Lewin Nyatanga having been away on international duty, the former Sheffield United man travelling to his home country Jamaica and back.
Paul Jewell has added former Southampton and Crystal Palace central defender Darren Powell to his squad ahead of the game. Powell, now 32, recently came up against Town's reserves while on trial with Charlton and may make his debut at Portman Road.
Jewell says he is delighted to have added Powell to his squad: "It's no secret that we need extra cover at the back and Darren fits the bill in terms of his knowledge of the game and is a strong personality.
"Darren is an old-fashioned defender who heads it and kicks it clear, and there is a lot to be said for that.
"He is a welcome addition to the squad and I think he will have a part to play for us in this campaign."
The Rams boss admits that Powell might be a risk given that he hasn't played a first team game since last season: "Obviously he is not match fit and there would be concerns but if anything happens to the two centre-halves [Claude Davis and Lewin Nyatanga] or they are a bit tired after international duty, we would put Darren in and hope his experience gets him through.â€Â
Jewell expects a difficult match: "Ipswich are formidable on their day, a good side with some good players and it will be a tough game.
"But it is a game we are looking forward to because we are competitive now. We may not be the best team in the world but we give everybody a game and we are getting better as each game goes by.
"The players are getting more and more confident and you can feel the group growing together, which as a manager and a coach is really pleasing.
"That is why we want to bring in some more players, just to help the group along. I think with a bit more help and competition around the team, we can do even better.
Town narrowly have the edge over the Rams historically, winning 25 times (23 in the league), drawing 18 (16) and losing 22 (21).
The sides last met in 2006/07 when the Blues won 2-1 at Portman Road via goals from Franny Jeffers and an 89th minute Danny Haynes penalty. Matt Oakley had lashed in the opening goal for the visitors. Alex Bruce and future Town loanee Stephen Bywater were red-carded in the first half after clashing in the aftermath of a corner.
Earlier that season at Pride Park, the Rams had won 2-1, Steve Howard and Arturo Lupoli, now with Norwich, netting their goals, Gary Roberts having scored for the Blues. Town loanee Simon Walton was sent off just before the hour mark.
Current Derby squad members Bywater and Jay McEveley both spent time on loan with the Blues, while keeper Lewis Price moved from Portman Road to Pride Park in the summer of 2007 and is on loan at the MK Dons at present.
Jon Stead spent three months on loan at Pride Park between October 2006 and January 2007, scoring three goals in 15 starts and two sub appearances. Town defender David Wright was a member of Paul Jewell's Wigan side which pipped the Blues to promotion to the Premier League in 2004/05.
Issue 94 of TWTD will be on sale prior to the game from our sellers around the ground. Young central defender Tommy Smith is this issue's interview star, telling us how frustrating it is to have your season scuppered by a broken ankle, what it was like to make his debut, life as a loanee at Stevenage and much more.
There's also a chat with new goalkeeper-coach James Hollman, who is questioned by Jake Sweetman, one of his mates from his days as a Felixstowe schoolboy, as well as articles on everything from the rough time the club is getting from certain sections of the media and the Tevez saga to Robert Peston's possible recruitment as Town's manager. If you're not at the game, you can buy a copy online here.
Also on sale from the TWTD stall by Sir Alf will be copies of Mel Henderson's Ipswich Town: The 1978 FA Cup Story signed by Roger Osborne. This can also be purchased online.
Saturday's referee is Mick Russell from Hertfordshire, who has shown 34 yellow and two red cards in 14 games so far this season. His more recent Town match was the 1-1 draw at Southampton in March.
Likely squad: R Wright, Supple, D Wright, Thatcher, Balkestein, McAuley, Naylor, Bruce, Garvan, Shumulikoski, Norris, Miller, Campo, Walters, Quinn, Ambrose, Walters, Couñago, Stead, Lisbie, Haynes.