Preview: Norwich City vs. Swansea City - prediction, team news, lineups

Norwich City play host to Swansea City on Saturday afternoon needing a victory to boost their Championship playoff hopes.

While the Canaries sit two points adrift of sixth position in the table, Swansea are three points behind in 13th place having become the division's form team in recent weeks.

Match preview

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When David Wagner transformed Norwich soon after his arrival at Carrow Road, optimism quickly returned among the fanbase, yet they will now feel like they are back to square one.

Although Norwich are only two points below the playoffs, they have played a game more than two of the teams above them having won just one of their most recent eight fixtures.

Aside from the 5-1 capitulation at Middlesbrough, the Canaries have been strong defensively, but they have only netted five times during the aforementioned period.

A trip to promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion next weekend keeps Norwich more than active in the chase for the top six, although they must first overcome Swansea this weekend.

The East Anglian outfit have failed to win any of their last three home fixtures, not finding the back of the net on each occasion.

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From the perspective of Swansea, their resurgence has come a couple of matches too late, even if West Brom still feature on their schedule.

Russell Martin will feel that three more wins - to add to the five which have come from six outings - may edge them into the playoffs when all is said and done, the current gap standing at five points.

Nevertheless, Martin must still see a top-10 finish as the aim and a positive when the Welsh outfit have spent much of the campaign outside of those positions.

While Swansea were unconvincing in the second half of the 4-2 victory over Preston North End in midweek, they have kept four clean sheets in six matches.

Team News

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Sam McCallum will return to the Norwich side at left-back in place of Dimitris Giannoulis, who suffered a concussion at QPR.

Isaac Hayden may not be risked from the start in two matches in quick succession, seeing Liam Gibbs drop deeper and Teemu Pukki return to the team.

Adam Idah will also line up on the flank or down the middle of the attack after scoring as a substitute at Loftus Road.

Jay Fulton is likely to return to the Swansea XI as an alternative to Joe Allen, who is suspended.

Barring any further selection issues, Martin could be prepared to stick with the rest of the team which started the win over Preston.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Gunn; Aarons, Omobamidele, Sorensen, McCallum; Gibbs, Sara; Idah, Sargent, Hernandez; Pukki

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Fisher; Darling, Cabango, Wood, Latibeaudiere; Fulton, Grimes; Cullen, Cooper, Manning; Piroe

We say: Norwich City 2-2 Swansea City

Both teams know that victory is realistically the only option on Saturday, and that should lead to a thrilling spectacle. While Norwich may hold the lead at some point, Swansea are playing with a renewed belief that could result in them earning a share of the spoils.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.