Norwich face a make-or-break eight games that will shape the club's future starting with Saturday's crunch Championship clash against Plymouth at Carrow Road.

Norwich face a make-or-break eight games that will shape the club's future starting with Saturday's crunch Championship clash against Plymouth at Carrow Road.

Here we highlights some of the dates of destiny for the Canaries' relegation rivals in the battle to beat the drop.

Plymouth's long haul to Norfolk forms just one part of a weekend double header that pitches clubs hovering either side of the great Championship divide.

Whether below the waterline or treading water above it in the desperate scramble to avoid League One both camps know its get your own house in order first - then hope your competitor's develops a touch of subsidence.

Victory alone over Argyle will not be enough to pull City clear of that most undesirable of residences for any Championship dweller - the bottom three. Norwich need Notts Forest or Barnsley to slip up to avoid another miserable Sunday morning scanning the league table.

The Tykes' host Blackpool. Difficult at home as Norwich learned to their cost. Less frightening a proposition on the road.

City's fate and those of their relegation rivals is intrinsically tied up in these do-or-die, clich� riddled six pointers.

Blackpool against Southampton the following weekend. Plymouth's trip to the seaside on April 4. Barnsley hosting Notts Forest the same day. On and on, each twist and turn until the point of no return.

Sunday May 5. History tells you one or possibly two clubs will already have gone. League One, Johnstone's Paint Trophy, early rounds of the FA and Carling Cups.

But the fixture calendar has spat out a treble to set the pulses racing of the television execs. Southampton visit the City Ground. Plymouth host Barnsley. Norwich at Charlton. Six of the current bottom seven in hand-to-hand combat - clubs still potentially scrapping for their Championship lives.

Every win bigger than the last between now and D-day. Every point exponentially greater than the one that went before. Not forgetting every goal.

For a club that has searched high and low for a strike force worthy of the name this season Norwich remarkably have scored more goals then all bar Watford of their direct rivals. A goal difference second only to the Hornets and considerably better than Charlton or Southampton.

High scoring Carrow Road wins over Wolves and Barnsley helped massage the figures. Gunn has worked overtime in the last few weeks to stock his attacking armoury. Killen, Mooney, McDonald.

The Canary goal keeping legend is well aware the club's fate hinges on what happens at the opposite end of the pitch. Clean sheets alone will not cut the mustard.

Leicester were one goal away from consigning Coventry to League One in a nerve jangling finale at Stoke on the last day 12 months ago. A goal less draw cost the Foxes their Championship status. 45 previous matches condensed into one 90 minutes. When push came to shove Leicester had to rely on themselves. No one else.

Norwich take heed.