The Blues currently sit second in the division, level on points with Millwall and Middlesbrough but ahead of both on goal difference with two games in hand.
There’s little room to slip up in the run-in, however, and Clement believes that the clash at Carrow Road will be a ‘must-win’ for Town, especially given the money that they’ve spent to try and make an immediate return to the Premier League.
“He [Kieran McKenna] has done a really good job, already getting a promotion two years ago. Now again, they’re chasing for promotion and they’re up there.
“In the last 25 games, they’ve had the same amount of points as us, so they’re doing a really good job. They’ve also invested to go to the Premier League, to get back fast.
“It’s really clear that they’ve spent a lot of money to go up directly, so that will create a kind of pressure on their side. For them, it’s really a must-win.
“Every point is important for them. To have direct promotion, it’s a big difference than going into the play-offs, which is always a lottery for every team.”
The Blues are unbeaten in eight games heading to Carrow Road (Image: PA)
Ipswich are slight favourites with the bookies to take all three points in Norfolk tomorrow, and Clement is aware that McKenna has real quality to call upon in his squad.
“They’ve had one of the best defences in the league this season, so we need to do the right stuff to create chances,” he explained. “We also need to be really ruthless, to finish off the job.
“They have a lot of offensive power also, not only in the four attacking positions but also in midfield, also with the full-backs.
“They’re a really good team, they play good football. That’s already something that everybody knows before the game.
“It’s going to be a good game because you have two teams who will go for the three points and two teams who play good football.”
Asked whether Marcelino Nunez’s return to Carrow Road comes into his preparations, Clement replied: “Totally no factor for me. I don’t know him, I don’t know the circumstances there in the summer for his transfer.
“I’m not busy with that. We’re busy with ourselves and the team, to get the team in the best possible circumstances into this game, and be ready for this game.”