Town boss Jim Magilton will have to decide whether to stick with the 4-4-2 formation which has seen the Blues to 10 consecutive home wins or switch to back to 4-5-1 when the Blues travel to Carrow Road for Sunday's derby (KO 12.45pm, Sky Sports One).

Despite the stunning home record, Town are without an away win since the 2-0 victory over Luton in March. The 4-5-1 used on their travels has seen the Blues draw their last two away games and with a bit more luck — and better finishing and less incompetent refereeing — they might have won both matches.

The man at the centre of Magilton's dilemma is striker Pablo Couñago. The Spaniard has been in fantastic form at Portman Road, but is yet to reach the same heights away. Couñago has scored four goals since his return to the Blues, but has not yet netted outside Suffolk, although he had a late winner incorrectly ruled out at Burnley.

However, with Town full of confidence after two home wins on the trot, going fourth in the league and with the news of the major investment earlier in the week, Magilton may choose to stick with his winning home formula.

That would see Couñago and Sylvain Legwinski both keep their places in the side with Tommy Miller left out of the starting line-up. The midfielder missed the matches with Colchester and Wolves after hurting his ankle at QPR and the former Sunderland man's injury will be assessed before a decision is made on whether to include him in the party travelling to Norfolk.

Other than Miller, Gavin Williams is Town's only other sidelined player at present. The former West Ham and Yeovil man is expected to be back in action later this month after damaging ankle ligaments during the pre-season friendly with Panathinaikos.

Richard Naylor played another reserve game earlier in the week as he continues his comeback after his summer toe surgery. The central defender is unlikely to return to the first team with skipper Jason De Vos and Fabian Wilnis, a derby goalscorer in Town's 2003 2-0 win at Carrow Road, continuing their partnership.

David Wright, who netted in last year's 1-1 draw on Canary territory, will be at right-back with Dan Harding on the left.

If Magilton sticks with 4-4-2, Owen Garvan and Sylvain Legwinski are likely to start in the centre with Jon Walters on the right and Billy Clarke on the left.

Should the Town manager choose to switch to 4-5-1, Tommy Miller could come into the side, if fit, while Ipswich-born youngster Liam Trotter might also come into the Town boss's plans — particularly if Miller is unavailable - with few other central midfield options currently at the club.

Alan Lee will start up front with Pablo Couñago alongside him if the Blues stick with 4-4-2. Couñago would drop out if the side moves to 4-5-1.

Whatever the formation, former Norwich trialist Danny Haynes will be waiting on the bench ready to wreak more derby havoc on the Canaries, as he has on so many previous occasions at first team, reserve and youth levels.

Magilton says he is looking for someone to emerge as the game's star: “It will be a different day because of the pressure of the situation. Everybody will want to be a hero, and it could be a case of who wants to be a hero most.

“Last season we drew 1-1 at Norwich with David Wright taking the headlines after an impulsive move forward to score the equaliser.

“We want somebody else to provide a moment of magic that will hopefully give us the three points.”

Despite the Canaries languishing at the bottom of the table, three points adrift of 23rd-placed QPR, the Town manager isn't expecting an easy game: “When we went to QPR they were at the bottom and they showed a great appetite for the match and stopped us playing to a certain extent.

“I expect Norwich, with a new manager at the helm, to do the same and am expecting a very tight match.”

New Canaries boss Glenn Roeder will be without defender Adam Drury for several months after the former Peterborough man underwent knee surgery. Simon Lappin or Ian Murray will deputise.

The ex-West Ham and Newcastle boss added to his squad on Thursday when he brought in central defender Martin Taylor from Birmingham on loan. Taylor will start against the Blues alongside captain Jason Shackell.

Veteran Dion Dublin has returned to training after a back injury, while Gary Doherty is sidelined with a groin problem and Mark Fotherington has a long-term ankle knock.

Roeder was appointed on Monday and says the derby is the perfect way to begin his time at Carrow Road: “I couldn't have a better game to start, especially at home.

“I am sure by the time the kick-off comes the boys will be ready for it. For me that game, because of our present situation, as far as I am concerned is a win-win situation for us. I know outside our own supporters the majority of people will not be expecting us to win the game, which is how I like it.

“It is a question of getting that first win. There is nothing better for confidence than winning. No matter what I say, winning a game of football will help them and help me immensely.

“The sooner we do it the better. We have a super opportunity at the weekend to certainly get the fans on our side - I certainly know how important it is. Newcastle-Sunderland is a massive game in the north-east and this is equally as massive here in East Anglia, Norwich and Ipswich is a very appealing fixture to win.

“It is appealing to win every game, but particularly one against your close rivals who, you have to say, are going well at the moment.”

Town lead the Canaries in derby victories as well as in terms of trophies won and current league position. The Blues have won 38 derbies (36 in the league), the Canaries 33 (27) with 16 (13) games ending in a draw.

The Blues' biggest derby victory at Carrow Road was the 5-1 win in September 1947, while Norwich's largest home win was the 3-0 victory over Town in March 1995, a game in which Town's highest derby goalscorer John Wark (nine) was red-carded.

Last season, the Blues won 3-1 at Portman Road (Haynes 2, Legwinski for Town, Chadwick for the Canaries), while the Carrow Road match ended 1-1, David Wright equalising Dickson Etuhu's earlier effort.

An extra train has been laid on from Ipswich, leaving the station at 11.10am with another special train leaving Norwich for the return journey at 4.03pm. Supporters are advised to buy their train tickets in advance of their trip north of the border.

Fans travelling from London are advised that there will be engineering works on Sunday with a bus replacing trains between Marks Tey and Ipswich, adding an hour to the journey time.

Sunday's referee is Premier League and FIFA-listed official Rob Styles. The Waterlooville-based ref has shown 49 yellow and four red cards in 11 games during 2007/08. Earlier in the season, Styles was dropped from the Premier League for a week after awarding a bizarre penalty to Chelsea at Liverpool.

Styles's last Town game was the 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in April in which he yellow-carded Gary Roberts.

Likely squad: Alexander, Supple, Wright, Harding, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Bruce, Garvan, Legwinski, Walters, Clarke, Roberts, Miller, Trotter, Lee, Couñago, Haynes, Bowditch.

Photo: Action Images

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