THIS season has been the 'best it's been' says City boss Paul Lambert as he prepares his side for the final game of 2009-10 against Carlisle United on Saturday (3pm).

Carrow Road is sure to be in party mood for the climax to the campaign, which will see Lambert's men collect their League One championship-winning medals and lift the trophy after the game.

"This is the best it's been for me being a manager," said Lambert. "It's been an incredible ride no doubt since August-time.

"To see the lads do it and some of the performances which have been really high and the attacking football we've played has been great. There have been times when we've had to fight for everything and they've been brilliant. Last-minute goals and everything we've had this season. The crowd have taken to it and the players have taken to them and vice-versa and the two have brilliant, but to see them lift the trophy and to see the celebrations will be great.

"There will be young kids coming with their parents and this will be the first time they've seen it. It will be the next generation of Norwich fans that will hopefully remember - 'yes I was there on that day when Norwich lifted it'. It's not many times that you actually lift something at your ground. You very rarely get that, so it will be a great occasion for everybody."

GOAL: Wes Hoolahan strikes to give City the points in
the reverse fixture at Brunton Park

However, before the celebrations can start Lambert says there is a job to do with Greg Abbott's Carlisle looking to spoil the party. The Cumbrians have proved tough opponents for the Canaries this season, having knocked City out of the FA Cup back in November and only a Wes Hoolahan goal being the difference between the two sides in October's league encounter at Brunton Park.

"It's another hard game and we'll try our best to go win it," said Lambert.

"You can never quite tell how it's going to go and I want to win the game as normal. It's the last home game and we'll try everything we can to win it. We'll have a lot of fans there and they'll come here in the biggest party mode and we'll try and win it in front of our own fans. Nobody likes to lose their last game at home."

Canary fans would love to see the type of performance against Carlisle that the League One Champions gave at the Memorial Stadium last week, beating Bristol Rovers 3-0 with a confident and comfortable display - something the City boss would like to repeat but not at the expense of another three points.

"They were terrific last week, they really were," he said. "It depends how the game goes, I'm sure their confidence will be sky-high at the minute, and whoever plays will go out there and be confident and are going to try and play well. If they can do it with a bit of style and they can win fine, but first and foremost win the game before you do anything."

Lambert kept his cards close to his chest on who would play, having made several changes to his starting line-up in recent weeks: "I know the team that will start," he said.

The Scot did confirm that on-loan Preston striker Stephen Elliott won't be fit to play against the Cumbrians having injured his ankle, but will be at the game to take part in the celebrations.

Wes Hoolahan is back in contention having missed City's last six games with a thigh strain and right-back Russell Martin has also recovered enough from an ankle problem.

Captain Grant Holt continues his rehabilitation from ankle surgery to be fit for pre-season training.

Carrow Road is a home sell-out for Saturday's match with Carlisle United. Limited buy-back tickets will be on sale from 1pm on Saturday from the buy-back windows in the Jarrold Stand.

To mark the culmination of a fantastic season Aviva will be giving out 250 flags to fans on a first-come first-served basis. These are official club flags and will be distributed outside the Canary Store and Barclay End of the stadium from 1.30pm by staff wearing Aviva t-shirts. Further flags and other official merchandise can of course be bought from the Canary Store and online.