Norwich City defender Adam Drury believes Premier League places are up for grabs this evening when the Canaries take on MK Dons in the second round of the Carling Cup.

City's longest serving player is likely to skipper the side this evening and hopes to force his way into manager Paul Lambert's thinking when he names a squad to take on Chelsea at the weekend.

Drury has been forced to watch City's start to the Premier League season from the sidelines with Marc Tierney the current first choice left-back but the 32-year-old believes he still has the ability to play in the top-flight.

'Everybody's got to be ready and everyone is going to get their chance,' said Drury, who is in his testimonial year with the Canaries. 'When you get that chance then you've got to be ready to take it.

'The manager has said that all along that he wants all the lads together. Everyone knows we have got a great team spirit here anyway so it's going to change from week to week with different games and different ways of playing.

'You could be playing again the week after so you've got to be ready. You can't get upset about it, you've got to keep your head right and keep yourself fit and ready to go because a week later you could be back in the team again.

'You've got to go out there and do your best and at the end of the day win the game – that's the main thing. Whenever you play it gives you a great chance to put your case forward to be involved or be on the bench next week.'

While Lambert has admitted he will not jeopardise the club's Premier League campaign in chasing success in the Carling Cup, Drury believes the two do not have to be mutually exclusive and City have a big enough squad to fight on both fronts.

'You want to do well in it, winning games breeds confidence so we will be going all out for the win,' he added.

'The gaffer will put a team out that he thinks can win and he will want everyone to do the right job and win that game – that's the main thing.

'We've got a big squad and this is the reason that you've got it. You can change it about and rest players when they need it and it gives the other lads a great chance. We want to have a good cup run if we can.'

After hammering Chesterfield 6-2 at the weekend, MK Dons went to the summit of League One and Drury warned City against any complacency this evening.

'They got a great result at the weekend – it's going to be a tough game, cup games always are and they are scoring a lot of goals.'