Norwich City head into their Premier League fixture with Aston Villa looking to end a run of two successive defeats, results which have left the Canaries just above the relegation zone.
Villa make the long trip to Carrow Road sitting in the bottom three and having lost each of their three away matches since their return to the top flight.
Match preview
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While Norwich rightly received widespread praise for getting the better of champions Manchester City, Daniel Farke's side have struggled to replicate the level of that performance in their following fixtures.
Disappointing defeats at each of Burnley and Crystal Palace, without scoring a goal, have left last season's Championship winners will plenty of work to do in order to move themselves away from the drop zone.
A lengthy injury list will not help matters going forward with several players out in the long term, although Farke cannot allow that to become an excuse for a group who have already proved that they can get results on the board.
Nevertheless, there is no getting away from the fact that this weekend's game is the biggest of their season so far, and another setback will only make the adulation experienced after the City game feel like a distant memory.
Saturday's opponent Villa will also be disappointed with their points return this season, especially after blowing winning positions against each of Arsenal and Burnley.
Rather than sitting in the bottom three, manager Dean Smith will feel that his team should be safely in mid-table and looking forward, rather than preparing for two increasingly important tussles with Norwich and Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, Smith will have taken the positives from their recent performances, which have suggested that they should not have too many issues with ensuring that their stay in the Premier League is not a short-lived one.
That will be made all the more easier if Villa do not have to rely on the contribution of John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi, who are currently ahead of the likes of Wesley Moraes and Jack Grealish when it comes to goals and assists.
Norwich City form: LLLWLL
Aston Villa form: WLDLWD
Team News
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Norwich hope to have Jamal Lewis available, despite the full-back sustaining what appeared to be a significant arm injury against Palace.
However, third-choice goalkeeper Michael McGovern is expected to start due to injuries to Tim Krul and Ralf Fahrmann, while Alexander Tettey is a major doubt due to a groin problem.
Grant Hanley had been pushing for a recall to the defence before being ruled out through injury, leaving Ibrahim Amadou to keep his place at the back.
Jonathan Kodjia will play no part for Villa as he continues to recover from a facial injury, but Henri Lansbury is available again after an ankle injury.
Matt Targett is also in contention after making his first Premier League start following a hamstring problem.
Norwich City possible starting lineup: McGovern; Aarons, Godfrey, Amadou, Lewis; Leitner, McLean; Buendia, Steipermann, Cantwell; Pukki
Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, Grealish; Jota, Wesley, Trezeguet
We say: Norwich City 1-1 Aston Villa
Both teams are aware that they could do with avoiding defeat on Saturday afternoon, and that should lead to a closely-fought affair. The Canaries are the narrow favourites, but we feel that Villa have enough quality in their attack to earn a share of the spoils.
Darren Plant
