Ryan Lowe has upped the ante of Saturday's clash against Norwich City, labelling it as one of his biggest in charge of Preston North End.  

Norwich travel to Lancashire knowing that victory would create a gap of eight points between the sides and all but end North End's play-off hopes. 

But Preston will not lack for motivation when City arrive at Deepdale, knowing victory would pull them to within two points of the Canaries with a game in hand. 

That context makes this a decisive fixture for both sides, and Lowe was unwilling to play down the significance of the contest in the wake of their 4-1 victory over struggling Huddersfield Town in midweek. 

"We're going to give it everything because it's a needs-must," Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Norwich are a fantastic team, well-coached with unbelievable players and have had a bit of a kick in the teeth by conceding late to draw [at Sheffield Wednesday] but we have to make sure it's about what we do on Saturday.

"If we do manage to get three points, with a game in hand, who knows? We've just got to keep going.

"It's massively important. I'm not going to play it down. It might be the biggest one so far, but it's out of our hands really in terms of what other teams have got points-wise but I just want to stay in the mix and hopefully people are looking down on us and things can change."

Norwich will be looking to respond after squandering a two-goal lead to Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, as well as keeping their challengers for the top six at arm's length heading into the final weeks of the campaign. 

The Pink Un: Norwich City were held by Preston in a goalless draw in December.Norwich City were held by Preston in a goalless draw in December. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Lowe is hoping that home advantage is something his Preston side can draw on as he looks to keep them in the hunt for the top six. 

"That's 11 wins at Deepdale, and 63 points with five games to go," he said.

"It is [a total] which we were on at the end of last season - a lot of progression, and that's what we want.

"Can we win all five? There's definitely some 60-40 games against us in there, but there are also some 50-50s."