Norwich City (4-4-2): Marshall; Otsemobor, Bertrand, Shackell, Doherty; Huckerby, Pattison, Fotheringham, Gibbs; Cureton, Evans. Subs: Croft, Dublin, Chadwick, Pearce, Russell.
Not for the first time this season – nor, you expect, for the last next season – Canary boss Glenn Roeder took City's destiny into his own hands against Queen's Park Rangers and made just one change to the starting line-up against West Bromwich Albion.
And, no, it wasn't the one that most spectators and commentators would have expected as Ryan Bertrand replaced Mo Camara at left-back.
Darel Russell and Dion Dublin – on his last ever appearance at Carrow Road before his summer retirement – both stayed exactly where they were for that 2-1 defeat by the champions-elect. Sat firmly on the bench as Jamie Cureton and newly-crowned Anglian Player of the Month Ched Evans led the line in a contest that – for much better or much, much worse – will all but settle City's season with just that one away trip left next Sunday.
It was a big, big call by Roeder as Matty Pattison continued to partner skipper Mark Fotheringham in centre-midfield and Arsenal youngster Kieran Gibbs kept Darren Huckerby out on his less-than favoured right-hand berth.
One theory had it that both Dublin and Russell were being wrapped in cotton wool last week ahead of this weekend's 'banker' home game – or rather, as banker a home game as Norwich can ever muster at this stage of the season.
A theory that went out of the nearest window with this afternoon's team sheet.
There was one, further change on the bench where Lee Croft replaced Juan Velasco among the substitutes. A right-winger for a right-back was clearly a sign of the manager's positive intent – a commitment to getting the job done this afternoon that found no room once more for a substitute keeper.
If the Canary faithful -basking in some timely sunshine – were not on the edge of their seats already as the Norfolk side looked to finally wriggle their way out of playing League One football next season, so their hearts will be in their mouths as and when any Rangers player clutters into David Marshall.
Finding Jason Shackell donning the keeper's gloves for a game on which Norwich's Championship life could depend was the stuff of every supporters' worst nightmares. Right down there with travelling to Fulham on the final day of the season and losing 6-0, in fairness.
This is Norwich. It happens.
As for the visitors, Rangers had two notable absentees – ten-goal Hungarian midfielder Akos Buzsaky and the strapping Patrick Agyemang. The 'next Michael Schumacher' was, however, on display – 17-year-old Colombian striker Angelo Balanta.
Before all such fun and games, there was the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy to award for the City Player of the Season. Third was Marshall, second Russell and first – quite rightly – was Dublin. Not for the first time this afternoon Carrow Road rose to salute the 39-year-old. As he headed back to the bench to watch events unfold…
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