NORWICH City striker Jamie Cureton has Ipswich Town in his sights.And already Derby Day at Portman Road on April 12, is being etched in the minds of many fans, with the feeling bragging rights could still be very much up for grabs come the time.

NORWICH City striker Jamie Cureton has Ipswich Town in his sights.

And already Derby Day at Portman Road on April 13, is being etched in the minds of many fans, with the feeling bragging rights could still be very much up for grabs come the time.

Cureton, who scored in the side's 2-2 draw at Carrow Road before Christmas, knows the Canaries' recent surge could see their season turn into a far more profitable one than it appeared before Glenn Roeder took over.

And while you will find few Town fans who will agree with him, City's form of late has certainly been impressive. They are now just seven points behind Ipswich.

“It would be a massive boost for the fans if we could get anywhere near Ipswich,” Cureton said.

“The way things were we'd just have been happy to avoid relegation, but we have managed to turn it around. The fans always want to compare us with them and want us to do better than them, and while as a team we don't set targets like that we know how important it is to the supporters.”

Ipswich, buoyed by their first away victory of the season at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday however will not be concerned in the slightest by City's revival under Roeder, they have their own fish to fry.

But many think a strong rivalry between the two clubs is healthy, although the Blues hold the upper hand.

In the last 10 seasons Norwich have finished higher than Ipswich just three times, courtesy of a three-year spell when they went up as First Division champions, were relegated and then finished six places above the Blue in their first season back in the second tier.

Last season was a dismal one for both sides, who had to watch as tiny Colchester proved to be the best team in East Anglia with a 10th-placed Championship finish.

This season it's down to the big two again, with Colchester struggling at the foot of the table, but City may need to end a four-game run without a derby day win if they are finish above their neighbours.

With 16 games left it could be a close call, on current form.

If Norwich were to maintain their current two points a game average they would finish the season on 70 points - but Ipswich would still end the season two points better off.

However, take the 68th league meeting between the pair out of the equation and City would be on 68 and Town on 71 - which means that City must win at Portman Road and then hope that their goal difference - which currently stands at Ipswich +9 Norwich -6 - has improved sufficiently to overtake the Blues.

Time will tell.

DO you think Norwich can overhaul Town in the table? Is Roeder a better manager than Magilton? Let us know. Starsport@eveningstar.co.uk