Neil Adams knows he will be measured by Norwich City's Championship progress this season, which is why he is desperate to avoid another cup hangover.

The Canaries' lifeless Capital One Cup exit at Shrewsbury triggered a league slump that brought two wins in the next 11 outings. Given City ended 2014 with another frustrating away defeat at Reading, Adams views Preston as much more than a chance for a rare FA Cup victory.

'I went with a side at Shrewsbury I felt was strong enough and good enough to win the game,' said Adams. 'Looking back on that would I have changed it? No, because I never send out a side to do anything but win.It will be a strong team at Preston, dictated by injuries because we know one or two will be out, but we want winning momentum.

'I would agree totally we don't want that negative effect to kick in. Whether you beat Shrewsbury in the cup or the top teams in the league winning gives the place a lift and everyone a spring in their step.'

Adams accepts City will be expected to advance despite facing a League One promotion contender on their own turf.

'They are going well, they are organised and we know we have to be at it or we could be a cup shock,' he said. 'That is no disrespect to Preston but we are the higher level team and we want to be in the hat.

'We have treated them exactly as every other league opponent. We have been as thorough as possible, we've read all the match reports, we know what they are about. They get the ball from back to front quickly and they have good players in (Kevin) Davies and (Jermaine) Beckford. That is why they are going well in their division and they also have home advantage so I am sure they will be up for it and see it as a good chance for themselves.

'We have to be on our toes but we are confident if we play to our potential we can win it.'

City also have a spy in their midst after back-up keeper Declan Rudd's season long loan stint at Deepdale last year, but that familiarity does not guarantee the 23-year-old a rare start for the Canaries.

'We'll look at it but I am mindful we want to win the game,' said Adams. 'There is competition there in that part of the squad because we have four good keepers with Remi Matthews and Mark Bunn also in the mix. He did really well there. I went up and watched him at Preston and spoke to the coaching staff and they only had praise for him. He is highly regarded there and we will be tapping into everything we can get from him to help us. Football is about fine margins and if he can pass one or two pearls of wisdom on the opposition then we will take it.'