THIS may be Kelvin Davis' first East Anglian derby but there is already history between him and the Canaries.The Ipswich Town keeper saw red at Carrow Road two years ago after being sent off for clashing with David Nielsen.

THIS may be Kelvin Davis' first East Anglian derby but there is already history between him and the Canaries, writes Derek Davis.

The Ipswich Town keeper saw red at Carrow Road two years ago after being sent off for clashing with David Nielsen. Davis was playing for Wimbledon, who had allowed Nielsen to go on loan to Carrow Road, but were not best pleased when he was given permission to face his 'mother club'.

The pair squared up to each in the penalty area and Davis was subsequently dismissed.

He said: "It was quite unusual circumstances as we had one of our lads on loan at Norwich.

"We felt David should not have been playing against us as normally a loan player doesn't face his own team.

"We all know he has a habit of not staying on his feet in the box and I gave him a bit of gyp when he went over and the referee sent me off."

Now Davis is looking for sweet revenge by taking three promotion points off Town's bitter rivals.

Davis will be making his 250th league appearance tomorrow in the high-noon showdown at Portman Road and is eagerly looking forward to denying City once again

He said: "I did save a penalty against them at Carrow Road for Wimbledon when we beat them the year before so I have had some ups and downs against them.

"Three points are a lot more important to both sides than the fact that it is a derby game.

"If we were both mid-table then it would have been important just for being a derby game but this one is more than just that now.

"We have a decent record over the past 17 games so we will be going in there looking for all three points, especially at home."

Although Davis is aware that the Celtic-Rangers, Liverpool-Everton and Newcastle United-Sunderland derbies have higher profiles he is under no illusion that smaller town rivalries are just as intense, as he found out as a young Hatter.

He said: "Luton v Watford games were as lively as I have faced really as we didn't have derby games as such at Wimbledon. I made my home debut in a derby game for Luton and saved a penalty which was good. But I have also been on the end of a 4-0 defeat so I have seen both sides.

"There is no doubt these games are just as intense because they mean so much to people in the area who support the teams week in, week out."

The 27-year-old former England Under-21 keeper was reacquainted with an old friend this week when Nathan Abbey was taken on a one-month contract as cover following an injury to Lewis Price.

Davis said: "I know 'Tanny' well. We did our YTS together at Luton and stayed there for a few years.

"We knew he was out of contract so we knew it would be a perfect scenario for the club and we would be doing him a favour as well."

And he will be up against an old adversary in Rob Green, who also shares Malcolm Webster as a goalkeeping coach.

"Rob has done well on a regular basis at this level for some time so I can see him stepping up to the Premiership. It would be a natural progression for Rob," added Davis.