BOSS Eddie Howe has challenged Cherries to hit “a new level” when they travel to in-form Norwich this afternoon (3pm).

Howe believes the Canaries present one of the Championship’s sternest tests on their own turf and insists his team must be at full throttle to secure a positive result at Carrow Road.

Cherries are off the back of league defeats to Blackburn and Nottingham Forest while Neil Adams’ Norwich have won four in a row in all competitions.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “We knew that Blackburn and Norwich away were going to be difficult but these matches are opportunities to take our game to a new level.

“Norwich have got a very strong squad and they have kept the majority of the players that performed well in the Premier League up until last season.

“When you look at the players that they have managed to keep and recruit, I think this is going to be a good marker for us to see how strong we’re going to be this year.

“This is one of the tougher grounds that you need to go to and get something from if you are going to be competitive.

“I think they have got quality in their team and it’s going to be one of our toughest assignments this season.

“We’re under no illusions that we need to produce a very good performance. We need everyone to be at their very best and that’s what we’ve drilled into the players.”

Norwich are without the services of defender Martin Olsson due to a family bereavement. Javier Garrido (hamstring) and Gary O’Neil (leg) face fitness tests but Ryan Bennett and Mark Bunn (both ankle) are still absent.

Adams could hand a debut to 18-year-old midfielder Conor McGrandles, signed for £1million from Falkirk on Thursday.

Striker Tokelo Rantie (ankle) is among Howe's injury concerns with Simon Francis (hamstring) also a doubt.