Fans across Norfolk and Suffolk are preparing themselves for what could be two of the greatest East Anglian derbies ever played over the next ferocious fortnight of football.

The bitter rivals have been pitched against each other in the play-off semi-finals after the Championship season ended on Saturday with Norwich in third place and Ipswich just clinging onto sixth spot – despite losing 3-2 at Blackburn – on goal difference.

The Canaries have beaten their Old Farm foes twice already this season but will have to do it all again if they are to reach the play-off final at Wembley – and have a chance of gaining an instant return to the Premier League.

The games – at Portman Road on Saturday and at Carrow Road a week later – are arguably the biggest derby games since the two sides met in the 1985 Milk Cup semi-final, from which Norwich emerged victorious over two legs.

And with less than a week to go until the first clash in the latest titanic battle:

• City fans braved the rain and queued round the block at to buy tickets for the second leg at Carrow Road available to non-season-ticket holders which went in just two hours.

• As of last night just a handful of tickets remained available to Canaries fans for the first leg at Portman Road.

• It was announced the first leg at Portman Road will be beamed back to fans at Carrow Road.

• Club bosses last night revealed that after tickets for the beamback sold out by yesterday morning a second lounge was being made available for fans to watch the action in.

Robin Sainty, chairman of rebranded City fans group the Canaries Trust, admitted it had to be the Tractor Boys that stood in the way of a first Wembley visit in 30 years.

He said: 'It should be tremendous. They're games everyone wants to see.

'I don't think any of us are really surprised we've ended up with Ipswich – it was written in the stars. I must admit I feel a lot happier playing them over two legs than in the final, when anything can happen. I back us over two games.'

Kathy Blake, a member of the Canaries Trust, said she would rather have different opponents in the play-offs, but admitted it was a huge deal to fans on both sides.

She added: 'If you live in East Anglia and are not interested in politics or football then you may as well go to Mars for the next fortnight because it's all you're going to hear about.

'It will be up there with the Milk Cup semi-final, there's no doubt, but I've just got a bad feeling about it, but I hope I'm wrong.'

Ken Brown, the man who led City not only to the 1985 semi-final win over arch rivals Ipswich but also to victory in the final itself, against Sunderland, said it was a case of 'history repeating itself' and would be a fabulous occasion for the club.

He said: 'It's going to be a more than interesting tussle – let's put it that way. I still get the same feelings – it's a one-off and you go for it. I don't think there's anything better.'

A club spokesman confirmed it had been 'very, very busy' yesterday, with fans braving the wind and rain and descending on Carrow Road

well before tickets went on sale at 10am.

The queues were round the block and the casual tickets available for the Carrow Road clash were snapped up in just two hours although there might yet be some tickets available for the game from next Tuesday morning.

Carrow Road season-ticket holders have until next Monday to reserve their tickets, which are priced at £25, with those seats that are not taken being made available to priority members from 9am the next day.

There are also a limited number of corporate packages available for the second leg at Carrow Road.

Last week a Norfolk Constabulary spokesman confirmed plans on how to police potential derby clashes were being formulated.

A spokesman for rail operator Greater Anglia said travel details for the game would be announced tomorrow.

For more details about tickets log onto www.canaries.co.uk or call the Norwich City ticket office on 0844 826 1902

For more about the countdown to the derby clash, see Sport

Fans' verdict

Excited Canaries fans queued up from as early as 6am in the wind and rain to get their hands on tickets for the crunch derbies. Some of them spoke to reporter Sophie Biddle.

Shaun Chapman, 37, of Peterborough, said: 'It's going to be the biggest derby ever because of the amount of money riding on it and what's at stake. This play-off draw adds a little extra spice. It makes it more interesting, although it doesn't need to be a lot more interesting than the play-offs.'

Helen Youngs, 48, also of Peterborough, said: 'I am looking forward to it and I am looking forward to going to Wembley. It's not 'if' but 'when'.'

Glenn Stuart, 51, who lived in Norfolk as a child but is now in Manchester, said: 'I love it. Bring it on. I think it will be great. This is on par with the Milk Cup.'

Devon Briggs, 20, of Poringland, said: 'I am confident we will beat them at home. To watch Norwich play at Wembley will be a dream come true.'

Saffron Edwards, 19, of Sprowston, added: 'We would be on top of the world.'

Stuart Cooper, 48, of Thetford, said: 'I would like to have seen us go straight up and miss the play-offs.'

Peter Murray, 50, of Horsford, said: 'It's more fun in the play-offs. I think it would have been even better to play them in the final.'

Flashback to 1985

March 6, 1985: Norwich 2, Ipswich 0 (Milk Cup semi-final, second leg)

This was arguably City's finest moment. Ipswich were gunning for a cup double, and took a 1-0 first leg lead to Carrow Road. Town lost D'Avray to a sickening injury before John Deehan's deflected shot got the home crowd – and their visitors – wondering if it was to be City's year.

Level pegging it was, until the 87th minute as Mark Barham's corner from the City left was met in suitably emphatic style by captain Steve Bruce. The scenes that followed have stayed with every Norwich fan lucky enough to witness them.