David Wagner's message to his Norwich City squad ahead of their final stretch of Championship fixtures is clear - it's game on. 

The Canaries return to action this weekend by welcoming second-placed Sheffield United to Carrow Road hoping to record their first victory in three attempts to push them closer to the play-off picture. 

Norwich sit three points behind sixth-placed Millwall and have eight matches to finish inside the top six to set up a promotion shootout in the play-offs. 

Wagner's core message to his squad is to seize the opportunity as they return from international duty ahead of their Championship run in. 

"We have to make sure that all the internationals come back healthy, that we then can go again after the international break and attack the positions in the table where we like to be.

"We are three points behind at the minute. It's absolutely game on. We for sure have to make sure that the mindset is clear that reaching the play-offs with everything in your hands to get promoted. This is the target," City's boss said.

"And to be fair, after what I've seen (at Stoke) with all the problems which we had to solve, I'm very positive that we have everything to be there at the end of the season. But we have to be lucky with injuries as well, more lucky than we were in the past."

City are among a clutch of clubs hoping to be involved in the play-offs and still have to play Sheffield United, Blackburn, Middlesbrough and West Brom in their remaining matches. 

The Pink Un: Norwich City are in the hunt for the top six place. Norwich City are in the hunt for the top six place. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

The Canaries will have to win the bulk of their last eight matches to guarantee their spot in the top six come the end of the campaign. 

Wagner believes regaining momentum will be critical to ensuring they fulfil their aspirations. 

"We have to build it again," Wagner said. "I think Stoke was the first step to build it again. The in form team at the minute, everybody's aware about this, and we get a clean sheet point. It would have been a very interesting game if we used the first big chance of the game we had.

"As much as I was disappointed about the performance against Huddersfield I was pleased with Stoke."