Alex Neil is relishing his Norwich City reunion, believing it will be a game that suits the strengths of his in-form Stoke side.

The Scot has seen his side pick up seven points from games against Sunderland, Blackburn and high-flying Middlesbrough and is now hoping to inflict another dent in City's top six aspirations. 

Norwich have suffered two setbacks in the last seven days - losing 1-0 to Sunderland before recording a 1-1 draw with struggling Huddersfield in midweek. 

Tony Mowbray deployed a high-pressing system during Sunderland's Carrow Road triumph last Sunday to great success and Neil has his Stoke team set up in a similar fashion.

Given the style David Wagner has imparted on City since his arrival, Neil feels his side's high-intensity approach can perform against.

"I think it's a good game for us. It allows us to continue on the path we've been on," Neil told the Stoke Sentinel at his press conference.

"When you come up against a team with nothing to press, it takes your high press out of it and people ask why we didn't press - but how do you press someone who kicks it long? When there's nothing to press it's impossible.

"But Norwich will play. They'll risk the ball, they'll open the pitch up, they'll make it a big game and it'll be a game we're looking forward to. We've done well in these kinds of games."

Norwich are set to be without a host of key players for Saturday's game, especially in attacking areas. 

Neil can relate to the issues facing currently facing Wagner.

"I think there's a few struggling but I know how that feels over the course of the season," he said.

"We've had numerous injuries. Even if you look at our bench the other night, we've not been too dissimilar."

Only Luton have taken more points than Stoke in the last three matches, with the Potters scoring nine goals during that period. 

The Pink Un: Stoke have taken seven points from their last three matches. Stoke have taken seven points from their last three matches. (Image: PA Images)

It is the type of improvement that Neil will have wanted to see after swapping Sunderland for Stoke earlier in the campaign. 

After an extensive period of work, Neil believes Stoke are beginning to see the fruits of their labour after much-improved performances and results in recent weeks. 

"I think that it's been something we've been talking about for a number of weeks. Speaking about performances and speaking about what results look like on the back of performances.

"There have been a lot of things to get through to improve. I think the recruitment in the January window has also played a large part in that. It's shifted the mentality in my view. Going into each game, I think it feels like we're going to win," the Scot said.

"It's a bit like an iceberg. All you see is at the top, all the bit underneath is what's been brewing for a number of weeks.

"But ultimately until you get results on the pitch, no one sees the hard labour that goes behind it."