RICK WAGHORN Nigel Worthington today laid out a very simple battle plan for the last seven games of the Coca-Cola Championship season - grab every single point and wait for the others to stumble.

RICK WAGHORN

City boss Nigel Worthington today laid out a very simple battle plan for the last seven games of the Coca-Cola Championship season - grab every single point and wait for the others to stumble.

The Canaries fly to out-of-sorts Burnley tomorrow morning ahead of the televised clash at Turf Moor (7.45pm) that will do so much to determine their fate.

Lose and City will slip back into the mid-table pack. Victory and the pressure will mount on the likes of Wolves and Preston North End as the race for that sixth and final play-off spot hots up again.

“It is an uphill task,” admitted Worthington, a task the Canaries have already performed once en route to Cardiff in 2002.

“But the door is still open and what we've got to do is to keep it open for as long as possible over the last seven games.

City's successful trip to Leeds United and last Saturday's edge-of-the-seat win over Sheffield United has, says Worthington, sent spirits soaring. Norwich are in the happy position of having very little to lose and everything to gain. By contrast, both Wolves and Preston have everything to lose.

“There's a real brightness, confidence and smiley faces about the place and that comes from getting good results,” said Worthington. “The pressure's not on us - the pressure's on the top six or seven teams.”

Worthington's hand is also strengthened by a largely fully-fit squad.

His one slight doubt is forward Paul McVeigh, who exited early last Saturday with a lower back problem.

“He got a nasty knock on it in the game and he's not trained this week,” said Worthington.

“The fact that we're flying up tomorrow means that we've got that little bit extra time to make a decision on him, but right now I'd say he's 50-50.”

At least Worthington has an easy replacement to hand in the shape of the on-loan Jonatan Johansson. Canary youngster Ian Henderson could also come into the equation.

The fact that the Clarets are on a six-game losing sequence cuts little ice with Worthington.

“We've just got to focus on what we've got to do. I know the manager, Steve Cotterill, and I know the players there and I know they can turn it round at any time,” he said.