Norwich City vs Chelsea FC - Neil believes Norwich spirit remains strong

Alex Neil insists his Norwich side do not need a pick-me-up after their last-gasp defeat to league-leaders Leicester at the weekend.

The Canaries have taken just one point from their last seven Barclays Premier League matches, with a worrying habit of conceding decisive late goals, and were undone by an 89th-minute winner from Leonardo Ulloa at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

The poor run has left Neil's men outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone and on Tuesday they welcome reigning champions Chelsea to Carrow Road.

But, despite their lack of results and a late sucker punch against the title favourites, Neil says his players have already dusted themselves down.

"We haven't really needed to pick them up," he said.

"Players are clever. They know they deserved more than what they got and hopefully they can take great heart from that performance and endeavour into the next game.

"In recent weeks we've had games where we've been in control of them, but for one reason or another we've let a lead slip or found ourselves on the wrong end of the result."

Neil is sweating over the fitness of Sebastien Bassong and Wes Hoolahan as the pair are doubts with minor, unspecified knocks.

Loanee Andre Wisdom (knee) is still out while Patrick Bamford is ineligible against his parent club having moved to Carrow Road from Chelsea in January.

Neil reverted to three centre-backs for the game at Leicester as Norwich almost kept a clean sheet against a side containing free-scoring stars Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.

But he was coy when asked if he would stick with his 3-4-3 formation for the Chelsea clash.

"I've used it a few times but generally I think it's best suited when you're playing against a front two," he added.

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink, meanwhile, admits Alexandre Pato has slipped behind Bertrand Traore in the pecking order.

Diego Costa is still the clear first-choice striker for the Blues but the Spain international could be rested over the next couple of Barclays Premier League games with one eye on the return leg of Chelsea's Champions League tie against Paris St Germain on March 9.

The reigning Premier League champions have turned a corner under Hiddink and sit 11th in the table, with a trip to Norwich and a home game with Stoke to come before they look to overturn a 2-1 deficit against PSG.

Costa may be given a chance to recharge his batteries in one of those contests, which leaves Hiddink considering his other options, and he feels Traore has progressed well and now looks to be ahead of both Pato and Loic Remy in his thinking.

Pato, 26, has been short of fitness having joined on loan from Corinthians in January, having not played competitively since November.

"He's eager, we have now healthy competition going on with the strikers, in a very good atmosphere," Hiddink said.

"Diego is the number one. The other ones have stepped up, especially I'm happy with the progress of Traore.

"Although he's a young guy and the others might have more status I'm not just looking at that - I'm looking to the young guys making progress."

Despite Traore seemingly leapfrogging Pato in the pecking order, Hiddink could be ready to put the Brazil international on the bench for the game at Norwich, while fellow loanee Radamel Falcao remains out with a groin problem.

Asked if Pato was ready to play, Hiddink said: "Not ready for 90, but he is now coming into the last stage where he is able to play part of the game."

Hiddink also promised more game time for Ruben Loftus-Cheek before the end of the campaign as he refused to be drawn on the ongoing speculation Chelsea are close to announcing Antonio Conte as their next permanent boss.

Captain John Terry remains sidelined for the game as he looks to recover from a hamstring issue in time to face PSG, with Pedro joining Terry, Falcao and Kurt Zouma as the confirmed absentees.