Norwich City begin their Championship play-off campaign by welcoming Leeds United and Daniel Farke to Carrow Road in the first leg this lunchtime. 

The Canaries secured top-six qualification on the final day of the Championship campaign despite a 1-0 defeat to relegated Birmingham at St Andrew's, with Hull unable to beat Plymouth Argyle and create an eight-goal swing that would have been enough to see them leapfrog Norwich. 

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That, coupled with Ipswich Town's victory over Huddersfield, ensured that City would face Leeds - who finished third in the division despite reaching 90 points. It is the first time that a team has reached that number and failed to gain automatic promotion since Sunderland back in 1998. 

Norwich will be hoping to use home advantage to their benefit by building up a cushion to take back to Elland Road next Thursday in the second leg. The winner will progress through to a Wembley final for a shot at Premier League promotion. 

A whopping 17 points separated Norwich and Leeds in the regular campaign - meaning this is the biggest points gap between two semi finalists in play-off history. 

Norwich are undoubtedly the underdogs but will be hoping to lean on David Wagner's experience of navigating them successfully with Huddersfield back in 2017 to plot a path back to the Premier League. Farke, meanwhile, will be hoping to rescue Leeds' season but faces a challenge to refocus minds after a disappointing end to the campaign. 

Leeds beat Norwich twice during the regular campaign—winning 3-2 at Carrow Road in October and completing the double in January with a 1-0 victory. Whether that plays any part in this semi-final meeting remains to be seen. 

Norwich will be without striker Ashley Barnes for the first leg, who is missing with a calf injury suffered against Swansea, with Onel Hernandez and Liam Gibbs also sidelined. 

Shane Duffy, who was charged with drink driving earlier in the week, is expected to be part of Norwich's squad. Dimi Giannoulis and Jon Rowe are also fit enough to start, with Christian Fassnacht returning from a minor groin injury that sidelined him from the Birmingham finale. 

Leeds are without one-time Norwich loanee Patrick Bamford but are boosted by the return of Dan James and Connor Roberts. Winger Crysencio Summerville was on the receiving end of a tough tackle during their 2-1 defeat to Southampton last weekend, but is expected to be fit. 

You can follow all of the updates, analysis and reaction in our NCFC Live blog.

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