IPSWICH defender Fabian Wilnis today insisted: "The derby will bring out the best in us."Wilnis – on target when the Blues won 2-0 at Norwich almost exactly a year ago – is relishing the prospect of Sunday's return to Carrow Road.

IPSWICH defender Fabian Wilnis today insisted: "The derby will bring out the best in us."

Wilnis – on target when the Blues won 2-0 at Norwich almost exactly a year ago – is relishing the prospect of Sunday's return to Carrow Road.

And the Dutch full-back believes the showdown with the Nationwide League First Division leaders is exactly what Town need to get their own promotion bid back on track.

"We still get a glow every time we think of last season's victory at Norwich when we were deserved winners," he said.

"We must aim to repeat that form and give ourselves – and our supporters – a boost and at the same time knock Norwich's chances of automatic promotion.

"There is no doubt that we will have to be at our best on Sunday, and a repeat of last season's form at Carrow Road should be enough to see us bring the points back to Suffolk."

Wilnis gave Joe Royle's side a 72nd minute lead at Carrow Road on March 2, 2003 and Ipswich secured the spoils in the battle for East Anglian pride when Darren Bent grabbed a late second goal.

But while Town's hopes of a return to the Premiership next season were dented in a 2-0 defeat at Stoke on Tuesday, Norwich were showing their pedigree with a 0-0 home draw against second-placed West Brom.

And Ipswich have a score to settle after being outplayed in the corresponding fixture at Portman Road in December when the Canaries left Suffolk chirping after going top of the table with a 2-0 victory.

Wilnis left Stoke as dejected as the rest of his team-mates and admits that a good performance would have been a timely boost.

"A win against Stoke would have given us a big lift for our battle with the Canaries," he said.

"It is a huge game at Carrow Road and we are all looking forward to it. The occasion should bring the best out of us and we plan to give our fans something to smile about.

"We will not need to be motivated for Sunday's game. Just going out on the field to play against Norwich City will be enough."

Ipswich looked capable of mounting a challenge for a top-two place after their competent win over Preston, but after the disappointment at Stoke the club's aims may be for a play-off place.

Central defender Georges Santos made a costly double error at the Britannia Stadium.

Wilnis said: "Georges knows that he did wrong and that he should have cleared the ball anywhere before his back pass led to him conceding a blatant penalty.

"However, there were some good things that came out of the game and we passed the ball around well.

"We must keep believing, keep going forward and hoping that we experience more luck than we did in what was a thoroughly disappointing result."