CAN Orient clip the Canaries’ wings with no weight of expectation on them in this FA Cup match?

It is hard to find anyone at the Matchroom Stadium who does not talk of the round three tie in terms of a nice day out in East Anglia with some decent tuck by Delia Smith.

Boss Russell Slade is just happy to go to Carrow Road with a ‘clear conscience’ after Saturday’s win over Colchester atoned for the hammering by Brighton.

Centre-back Ben Chorley expects the game will be a learning experience.

And chairman Barry Hearn could summon only qualified optimism for the chances of 'little Leyton Orient'.

So it seems the Norwich youth team will have to be fielded by boss Paul Lambert for Orient to avoid being stuffed like a filling in one of Delia Smith’s hot pies.

But down-playing expectations in order to then exceed them is a trusty tactic of management.

The gap between the clubs may be nearly two divisions wide, but Orient have recent history firmly on their side.

Also it is the FA Cup here, the competition in which the unexpected (occasionally) does happen and dreams are made, then usually squashed flat.

Norwich were sent packing in April when the champions-elect of League One went down 2-1 at the Matchroom Stadium in a crunch league game.

The 4-0 defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season probably does not bear dwelling on.

The return of Terrell Forbes from suspension means Orient could boast their first-choice backline for the first time in a while.

It will be interesting to see what tactics Orient use and whether Slade deploys two strikers to take the fight to the hosts.

DOMINIC GOVER