Yes, I know April Fools' Day was earlier this week.

I expect there may be a few readers who want my upper deck River End season ticket confiscated after reading the headline at the start of this column.

And I fully expect to come in for some abuse for my views as I head to Carra on Saturday lunchtime (and certainly among those I sit near).

How can a dyed-in-the-wool, lifelong Canary, shame himself by saying he'd be happy for his beloved team to be defeated by their fiercest rivals?

Before I explain my seeming madness, let me give a few thoughts on the reality of where the East Anglian rivals are ahead of this Saturday's massive showdown.

I actually think Kieran McKenna's men will get automatic promotion. There, I've said it. How dare I, I hear many of you yelling?

The Tractor Boys have got a ridiculous momentum as they prepare to head up the A140.

The Pink Un: The Canaries will have to be at their very best to overcome the Tractor Boys

They're top of the tree - which even the most fervent of Ed Sheeran's barmy army could not have seen coming in August.

A total of 31 out of 87 points they have secured have come from losing positions this season (W8 D 7).

Almost a third of their goals this term - 31 out of 96 - have come in the 75th minute or beyond. Seventeen of those have ensured either a win or a draw.

Jeremy Sarmiento's last-gasp winner against promotion rivals on Monday was the ninth goal they have got in added on time.

Sound familiar to a period in City's history when a team just didn't know when they were beaten?

David Wagner's side have won their last seven home games and at long last Carrow Road is becoming something of a fortress.

Boy do we need that to carry on in the derby.

Monday's tepid loss at Leicester was a huge disappointment. After such an encouraging start - with a third consecutive goal from a corner - City reverted to passive, negative tactics and let the Foxes take control.

If we see anything like that submissive approach on Saturday, we're in trouble.

That's enough of cold reality.

Let's forget about thinking logically. Following football is all about the heart and not the head.

Go with me for a little while....

So over the next six games, can City get enough points to secure one of those play-off spots?

I'd say yes. We're currently on 64 - with a four-point cushion to Coventry in seventh.

I'll say more about the 2001/2 season shortly - when the Canaries last finished in sixth - but in that term they ended on 75 points (Wolves, who we ended up beating in the semi-final, had 86).

So please accept my optimism that the season will go beyond Birmingham (A) on May 4. 

Then ignore my previous view that Town will be in the top two and they will actually be agonisingly (for them) pipped by Leicester and Leeds for the automatic leap to the top flight.

And so a re-run of the 2015 play-off semi-finals will be on.

Nine years, of course, the first leg was at Portman Road with the return in NR1.

This time the venues would be reversed.

Before that, let's assume that City's 15 year or so unbeaten run carries on this Saturday.

That would add even more spice to chapter one of the promotion head-to-head at Carra.

Let me take you back to that 2002 tussle with Wolves.

City looked in all sorts of trouble when Dean Sturridge put the Midlanders ahead in the first leg before Mark Rivers, "We Love You" Paul McVeigh and Malky Mackay secured a 3-1 victory.

It was by no means job done and the Canaries came under immense pressure in the bear pit atmosphere at Molineux in the return fixture.

Kevin Cooper - who later went on to sign for City - put Wolves ahead but an epic defensive display saw Nigel Worthington's troops secure that trip to Cardiff.

I was in the away end that night and the phenomenal joy on the faces of the City players and fans was in such stark contrast to the utter misery among the home contingent.

That has to go down as my joint favourite ever defeat (alongside Sheffield Wednesday in 1982 when we won promotion despite losing at Hillsborough).

And so I get to the point which backs up my headline.

I absolutely would not be in any way happy to lose to our great rivals over the two legs.

However, just imagine the scenes if something like the Wolves scenario were to be repeated.

Let's face the facts - the long, long unbeaten run has to come to an end at some point.

Just think if we can get ahead by a couple of goals in the first leg and then lose by the odd one at Portman Road.

That victory they have so, so desired would - on paper - have been achieved.

But rather than joy there would be despair. Rather than a trip to Wembley, there would be footballing heartache.

Am I living in fairy land? Quite possibly.

Am I dreaming of it ? Of course I am!

OTBC.