CITY boss Bryan Gunn is confident his players will revel in the derby atmosphere at Portman Road this Sunday (12.45pm).

Not only are East Anglian bragging rights at stake but there is added incentive for the Canaries who will be looking for a much-needed three points in their bid for Championship survival. But Gunn said his players will be looking forward to the game.

"I think the guys will revel in the atmosphere - It'll be an extra impetus for them to get into the team and play well once we get down to the stadium, where the pitch is in excellent condition. Once it starts filling up, there'll be a great buzz generated on the day and I think our players will be looking forward to that."

He continued: "It's up to us and go there and quieten the home crowd down, as any good away team will try and do. That's down to us and our approach to the early part of the game - we're hoping to do that and then we'll have a good section of the crowd as well, over 2,000 Norwich fans. I know that they'll go down there and make as much noise as possible, and get right behind the team just as they did at Carrow Road on Monday."

With just three league games remaining for City to secure their Championship status, Gunn added: "It's as big a derby game as you'll have come across in the last few years - I think the fact it's come so late in the season will be a big test of our character and the way we need to finish the season. The fixture list was down in black and white in June last year, so the lads knew this game was coming.

"I think the bigger the game the better at the moment for our players, they've responded to the pressures they've been under and during the season when they've played in big matches, there's been a response. Whether that be from the level of performance or the result achieved. I would hope because of the size of this game we'll create the same reaction we've had in previous big games."

Striker Alan Lee returns to Portman Road for the first time since his summer move to Crystal Palace, but Gunn was confident the big Irishman could cope with any banter from the home fans: "He seems to have thick skin. I'm sure he'll go out there and he'll have a few friends around the stadium because he's an amiable chap - he's someone whose character is infectious off the pitch.

"I'm sure a lot of people at Ipswich will welcome him back, but they'll obviously be hoping he doesn't perform during the 90 minutes of football. The person he is and his character, he made a big impression during his time at Ipswich - I've spoken to people and Ipswich fans and they were surprised when he left the club."

The Norwich manager has no new injury concerns to worry about ahead of the game, he said: "I've got to pick a squad of 16 which will go and achieve a result, we're in training today and we'll do that again tomorrow. I expect everyone's hoping I'll select them and that's a good position for a manager to be in. Hopefully I'll get the team selection right and we'll go and perform and achieve the result we all want.

"These are the big games that when you retire and look back, you remember and hopefully for the right reasons - for the performance, for the result and for whether you scored the winning goal or saved a penalty. That's not only for individual players, it's for fans as well."

City's visit to Portman Road comes on the back of the Blues having only won one league home game in their last 10. "We need to go their and achieve a result which will keep us in the Championship," said Gunn. "If they're finding results difficult then maybe we've got an opportunity to take advantage of that. I'm sure Jim Magilton, who I know, will be firing his team up very much in the same manner as I'll be doing over the next couple of days. Come 12.45 on Sunday, may the best team win."

On Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton, Gunn added: "I know Jim, I've played golf with him and he's very competitive with whatever he does - he was as a player, he is as a manager and he also is as a golfer. I'm sure, like me, he'll be biting and scratching for every bit of confidence we can give to our players ahead of Sunday's game.

"He's trying to do a job and I suppose there's a different kind of pressure on Jim - but he's big enough to battle through that and I hope he does and I'm sure he will. He's got good strength of character and there's a good set-up at the club. I'm sure there's a lot of Ipswich fans and directors who might want to see Norwich in the Championship next season if only for financial reasons."