David Wagner is not obsessing about the latest Championship standings but does want to harness more upward mobility against Cardiff City.

Wagner, publicly at least, is maintaining it is performances not league points driving him on to revive a promotion bid that stalled under Dean Smith around the turn of the year.

For the record, Norwich will kick off on Saturday a point outside the top six, fuelled by rediscovering the keys to Carrow Road after recent wins over Hull and Birmingham.

“It's not a secret the last two home games were great, performance wise, and obviously from the result as well. Psychologically, they were very important games,” said the Norwich head coach. “In one game, we were 1-0 down but we were able to come back. In the second game we conceded very early after half-time, but we didn't really let it affect us.

"We stuck to our idea and then we scored a wonderful third goal. Psychologically for us, and for the supporters, to be fair, because they hadn't won since October as well at home, both will feel we now are back on the winning track.

"If we all, together, invest everything to get wins over the line then when you start to see results it should give everybody confidence. We have to invest again and we have to be ready for the fight. Our supporters have to be ready to put the energy into the stadium again (against Cardiff).

“We have to make everybody clear that it will be hard, hard work, where we need a lot of support and a lot of energy. These are the really hard, dirty yards after two midweek game cycles."

Wagner was refreshingly candid at Colney on Friday regarding Cardiff’s potential gameplan.

“To be totally honest, I don't know what approach they will use. And to be very honest, and I don't really want this to sound dismissive, I don't really focus on it,” he said. “I'm focused on whatever we face, we have to prepare for it. If they choose to press, then we have to find a solution.

"If they sit in a deep block, or the midfield block, we have to find the solution. This is where we are focused. What they do, we can't influence so why should I waste my energy for something I can't influence?

“I give all my energy, and I have a lot to be fair, into the players to give them the right idea if one or other situation does happen. This is exactly how we approach this game.”

Relegation-threatened Wigan frustrated Wagner and his side last weekend in the north-west, and Cardiff would have arrived in Norfolk propping up the rest but for two wins in their last two under new boss, Sabri Lamouchi.

“He's still fresh in the building, like we are here, and I think he is trying to find a way to implement his ideas,” said the City chief. “They had three defeats when he first went in and then he changed the formation to a five and they have won the last two, without conceding.

"Cardiff lay on the sofa this week, while we were playing, so we need to find the energy on the grass and in our legs.

“We will invest everything for a third win in a row at home. It's good to have players who have shown that they are capable of helping in a situation where you have some injury concerns, which we obviously have. We've shown that our substitutes are able to influence the game positively.”

Christos Tzolis notched his first league goal for the club to seal the Birmingham win, and Wagner will need to make one enforced change after midfielder Kieran Dowell was ruled out until late April with knee ligament damage.

Josh Sargent is not expected to return until the middle of next month, after picking up an ankle injury at Wigan. Teemu Pukki will be in the squad on Saturday, if he suffered no adverse reaction overnight to his return to training following a calf issue.

Adam Idah led the line in the duo’s absence against the Blues, and the City boss spoke recently about the importance he places on his first line of defence.

“For me, Adam played very, very well,” he said. “Apart from scoring, he really worked hard, his link up was good, his hold up game was good. Unfortunately he did not use his opportunity (in the first half) but he was very dangerous and helped us to create good moments offensively.

“There was a top class chance for Kenny (McLean) he had a big role in. But we kept them away from our goal very well. And this was great to see, that we didn't get affected from a goal which, from my point of view, was more or less the only real chance they had.

"I'm very pleased with the defending style of the team, with the attitude, with the togetherness, the commitment. You were able to feel this hunger, this desire.”