Sheffield United head into this third round clash having claimed all three points against Charlton Athletic in what was a dogged affair - had the game been on national television I'm sure neutrals would have turned off at half-time. Never the less it was the visitors who went into the break a goal to the good; Hameur Bouazza (33 minute) proving the difference.
In the second half things were different, United struck level on 65th minute when James Beattie laid off Stephen Quinn to fire home before Danny Webber (72) tapped home at the second attempt to hand the Blades the lead. Seven minutes later Quinn grabbed a second when his free-kick flew into the back of the net; 3-1.
Darius Henderson will be available for selection once again; the former Watford striker missed the league fixtures against; Crystal Palace (h), Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) and Charlton Athletic (h) due to suspension after being sent off at Swansea City.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will be without midfielder Gary Speed (back) and defender Ugo Ehiogu (Achilles) who are both out for the remainder of the season.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Ian Bennett, Kyle Naughton, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith, Greg Halford, Brian Howard, Nick Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, James Beattie, Darius Henderson.
Norwich City coming into this fixture on back of a 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup Third Round, Jonjo Shelvey gave the home side a 20 minute lead at the Valley and the pair will contest in a replay next week at Carrow Road with substitute Arturo Lupoli netting a 71st minute leveller.
City manager Glenn Roader faces somewhat of a selection problem with host of loan players on his team - seven in fact with defenders; Elliot Omozisi (from Fulham), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), John Kenneddy (Celtic), Tony Archibald-Henville (Tottenham Hotspur), midfielder Antoine Sibierski (Wigan Athletic and strikers; Arturo Lupoli (Fiorentina) and Omar Koroma (Portsmouth) all on loan.
Under Football League rules only a maximum of five on loan players can be included in the managers squad in any one match. Meanwhile Michael Spillane, Chris Martin (both Luton Town) and Jamie Cureton (Barnsley) have been shipped out of Carrow Road on loan.
The club will be without striker Leroy Lita who returns to Reading following a successful loan spell and has since been targeted by several clubs who believe they can bag a bargain £300,000 transfer from the Royals.
Elsewhere striker Lee Croft has been rumoured to be on a transfer out of City; with Sheffield United as one of those targeted clubs - it may be his last game for the Yellow and Green if a move prior to this fixture hasn't been arranged. Whilst Herman Hreidarsson (Portsmouth) and Andrius Velicka (Glasgow Rangers) could join in possible moves before they travel to Bramall Lane this Saturday.
Possible Canaries Line-Up: David Marshall, Elliot Omozusi, Jon Otsemobor, Ryan Bertrand, Gary Doherty, Wes Hoolahan, Sammy Clingan, David Bell, Matty Pattison, Lee Croft, Leroy Lita.